The San Francisco 49ers addressing the offensive line is a popular first-round scenario in many mock drafts. The last time the team used a first-round pick on an offensive lineman was in 2018 with the selection of Mike McGlinchey. Of course, the Niners have been without a first-round pick in the past two drafts due to the trade to acquire Trey Lance in 2021.
Matt Barrows of The Athletic unveiled his seven-round 49ers mock draft, projecting the team's choices with each of their selections. The seasoned reporter aligns with the prevalent scenario of addressing the offensive line. He has the 49ers selecting former Georgia offensive tackle Amarius Mims with their first pick.
However, there's a twist.
Barrows doesn't anticipate the 49ers selecting Mims with the No. 31 overall pick, considering the possibility that the offensive lineman could be off draft boards by then. As a result, he proposes that San Francisco trades up to acquire the 6-foot-8, 340-pound player. The cost would be the team's first-round pick (No. 31), a pair of fourth-rounders (Nos. 124 and 132), and next year's third-rounder to move up to the Miami Dolphins' selection at No. 21.
Depending on how the first 20 selections unfold, other options at that spot might include Oklahoma's Tyler Guyton and Arizona's Jordan Morgan. Nonetheless, Mims remains Barrows' choice at that position.
While Mims' size is impressive, a glaring concern in his collegiate resume is the lack of experience, with just eight career starts with the Bulldogs. Mims might benefit from not having to start immediately, observing, learning, and preparing to take over one of the two tackle spots, potentially stepping in for Trent Williams one day.
"Mims certainly could compete with Colton McKivitz at right tackle as a rookie," Barrows notes. "But he wouldn't have to be thrown into the fire right away like he might if another team took him. He also could spend his rookie season apprenticing behind the best left tackle in the game."
This leaves the 49ers with seven more draft picks. Barrows has the team selecting former Western Kentucky wide receiver Malachi Corley in the second round and former Kentucky cornerback Andru Phillips in the third round. He also proposes the team select former Rice wide receiver Luke McCaffrey, brother of 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey, in the fifth round.
"In Luke, he'd find a player who only recently transitioned to wide receiver but managed 992 yards and 13 touchdowns last season," Barrows wrote. "He also has at least some experience returning punts, a position of need for the 49ers."
Barrows has the 49ers adding a defensive end, another offensive lineman, a tight end, and a running back with the remaining selections. You can view all of his projected picks and read his analysis in his feature for The Athletic.