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The San Francisco 49ers did what they could to address offseason needs. They signed
Charvarius Ward and drafted two cornerbacks to bolster that position. In addition, they hope to have found a replacement for Dee Ford in second-round draft pick
Drake Jackson. There remains uncertainty about who will be playing alongside Jimmie Ward at safety, but the team has options.
While the 49ers drafted two offensive linemen—
Spencer Burford and
Nick Zakelj—the interior of that line is among the team's most prominent question marks heading into the 2022 season. It will be tough to replace Laken Tomlinson, who is now with the New York Jets. Also, Tom Compton left for the Denver Broncos after just two seasons with the 49ers.
No one knows what is happening with center Alex Mack. He could surprise everyone and return for his 14th NFL season, or call it a career and retire after one season with the 49ers.
Finding solutions to solidify the interior of the offensive line has to be a priority due to everything pointing toward second-year quarterback Trey Lance becoming the starter. Another reason is that the 49ers offense is so dependent on a potent rushing attack.
Bleacher Report named each NFL team's biggest remaining offseason needs, and it won't surprise anyone that the guard position is listed as San Francisco's.
"
That line is facing some adversity in 2022," wrote Gary Davenport. "The team lost a pair of quality starters when right tackle Tom Compton and left guard Laken Tomlinson departed in free agency. The team is hopeful Mike McGlinchey can step back into the starting lineup at tackle after an injury-shortened 2021 season, but there are questions at guard.
"
Aaron Banks (who is slated to replace Tomlinson) was a second-round pick last year, but he also played all of five snaps as a rookie. Right guard Daniel Brunskill was far and away the lowest-graded starter on the 49ers front last season at Pro Football Focus with a 62.2 [overall grade].
"As goes the line, so goes the entire offense in San Francisco. And those guard spots appear shaky."
There is still time to tweak the lineup. The 49ers could add a veteran center like JC Tretter, who remains a free agent. They might be confident enough in Banks as a starter at guard in his second year. In fact, the 49ers felt Banks may have been ready midway through last season but opted not to throw the then-rookie into action.
"
If you had asked me halfway through [the season] if he was going to be playing, I would have said, 'Yes,'" head coach Kyle Shanahan admitted in March. "And things just started clicking for our team and we didn't want to mess it up. But he's ready to go."
The San Francisco 49ers mainly focused on fortifying their defense in free agency, leaving many to believe that the 2024 NFL Draft will be their chance to upgrade the offensive line.
Most mock drafts predict the 49ers will select the best offensive tackle available to bolster the line's weak link—the right side—and potentially provide a succession plan for 35-year-old left tackle Trent Williams.
Pro Football Focus recently examined each team's biggest need heading into the draft's first round and unsurprisingly listed offensive line for the 49ers.
"The 49ers likely won't have the luxury of selecting the top offensive lineman with the 31st pick, but they can still find a quality player to improve a unit that was inconsistent in pass
As draft week unfolds, analysts are unveiling their final mock drafts heading into the annual event. The 2024 NFL Draft kicks off on Thursday, and ESPN's Jordan Reid released a behemoth of a mock draft, projecting all 257 selections across all seven rounds.
The ESPN analyst has the Washington Commanders leaping in front of the San Francisco 49ers in the first round to select one of the top offensive tackle prospects, leaving John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan's squad to take a different approach.
RELATED:
On Wednesday, Chat Sports contributor Chase Senior reported that the Pittsburgh Steelers were "aggressively pursuing" San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. He further stated that the Steelers are confident they can finalize a deal for the star player.
REPORTS: The Pittsburgh Steelers are aggressively pursuing a Brandon Aiyuk trade and the Steelers would be "surprised" if they don't land Aiyuk. Of note: Pittsburgh has the 20th overall pick. The Niners could look at that as equal value for Aiyuk if they can't get a deal done.…
The San Francisco 49ers announced the signing of wide receiver Trent Taylor to a one-year deal, reuniting with the team's former fifth-round draft pick out of Louisiana Tech.
Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area was the first to report that the 49ers were discussing a potential reunion with Taylor. The receiver was part of head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch's first draft class in 2017 and spent his first four NFL seasons with the team.
The #49ers are talking with free-agent slot receiver/return man
