Former Notre Dame tackle Mike McGlinchey told reporters via a conference call on Thursday that he had no idea San Francisco was going to select him. In fact, it was a complete shock.
The selection at the ninth-overall pick was a shock for fans too with the first eight selections in this year's draft not going as expected. It all started with the Cleveland Browns passing on quarterback Sam Darnold out of USC and going with Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield instead.
McGlinchey was shocked to be heading to the 49ers because the team had only spoken with him at the combine. He had no contact with San Francisco after that.
"I had no idea," McGlinchey told the media. "It's definitely a shock, but absolutely thrilled to be part of the San Fransico 49ers organization. It has a lot of great history with a lot of great quarterbacks and a lot of great Super Bowls."
McGlinchey, who is the cousin of Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan, wasn't in attendance for the 2018 NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. He was near his hometown with his friends and family.
"I'm with 150 of my closest family and friends at Giuseppe's Restaurant in Richboro, Pennsylvania, right near my hometown," he said.
In his nine seasons as an offensive coordinator, Kyle Shanahan's five primary right tackles had an average weight of 311 pounds.
Mike McGlinchey: 309 pounds.#49ers
— Eric Branch (@Eric_Branch) April 27, 2018
Now, McGlinchey's job will be to protect the 49ers' $137.5 million investment – quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. What does he think about his new quarterback?
"He looks amazing," McGlinchey said.
McGlinchey will join a revamped offensive line that includes veteran tackle Joe Staley, who was recently given a pay raise by the 49ers, newly signed center Weston Richburg, and former Dallas Cowboys guard Jonathan Cooper. Tackle Trent Brown's future with the team remains unclear, with unverified rumors of the 49ers looking to trade him during the draft.
The 6-foot-8, 315-pound McGlinchey has experience at both tackle spots during his time at Notre Dame. In three years with the Fighting Irish, McGlinchey started 38 straight games. With McGlinchey at left tackle in 2017, Notre Dame had the third-best rushing offense in the nation in yards per carry (6.25) and the seventh-best in rushing yards per game (269.3).
McGlinchey ranked as the nation's top run-blocking offensive tackle last season and the third-best overall.
"I know that [the 49ers] were an up and coming organization with a great new head coach and a great new quarterback," he said. "And they proved that at the end of the season last year, winning I think it was five or six or seven consecutive games and proving that they were ready to win in this league. Obviously, like you said, the huge history that comes along with the 49ers is awesome, and it's something that I'm ready to continue to try to uphold and bring back to San Francisco."
