The San Francisco 49ers added their second offensive lineman of the 2024 NFL Draft on Sunday with the selection of USC tackle/guard Jarrett Kingston, who was chosen with the 39th pick (215 overall) in the sixth round.
Kingston (6-4, 305) brings a wealth of experience to the 49ers and has the ability to contribute in a number of areas. He joins third-round selection Dominick Puni as offensive linemen selected by the 49ers in the 2024 draft.
Here's a rundown of what to know about Kingston as he begins his NFL career.
He believes his future is on the interior
Kingston spent time at left tackle, left guard, right guard, and right tackle during his college career, but he thinks he'll likely be a guard or maybe even a center in the NFL, even though center is the one area where he doesn't have much experience.
"I know that some NFL scouts have been asking me if I can play center," Kingston said in an interview with Inside Troy in 2023. "I'm 6-4, but I don't have super long arms, so I know that I'm probably going to be an interior player at the next level."
If the need ever arises for him to fill in at tackle, he certainly has the experience and knowledge to do it, having done so for multiple seasons in college.
"I know I'm strong enough to play inside and I know I'm athletic enough to play outside," Kingston said. "So I think those two things are the biggest things where I can play both positions. And I feel like I've been playing football for so long now that I know the game pretty well. I'm still learning it and everything, but I think I've played it so long now that I know the ins and outs of each position I've been playing."
He started his career as a Cougar
Kingston signed with Washington State out of Anderson (Calif.) High School and eventually found himself as a fixture on the offensive line. After a redshirt year in 2018, Kingston played in ten games in 2019 before moving into the starting lineup at left guard in 2020. Kingston then started 12 games at left guard and one at left tackle in 2021, then was named All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention in 2022 after not allowing a sack in 398 passing snaps.
Kingston started nine games at left tackle in 2022 before seeing his season come to an end with a leg injury. He moved on to USC for his senior season, where he played at right guard before making an in-season move to right tackle.
Where he fits with the 49ers
With the above background in mind, it's easier to get a clearer picture of where Kingston will stand once he arrives in the Bay Area. The 49ers have some numbers at guard with starters Aaron Banks and Jon Feliciano along with backups Spencer Burford and Ben Bartch. Most feel Puni projects as a guard as well. Jake Brendel remains a fixture at center for the foreseeable future.
It's possible Kingston will wind up spending more time developing in 2024 than playing on Sundays, although the next few months will sort that out for sure. Getting work in at center wouldn't hurt his chances of making the roster. The 49ers also may have chosen Kingston with an eye on the future as well, considering Banks and Feliciano aren't under contract past the 2024 season.
Combine and highlights
At the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Kingston ran a 5.02 40-yard dash time with a 1.73-second 10-yard split. He added a vertical jump of 31.5 inches and a broad jump of 9 feet, three inches. Kingston put up 32 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press and was timed at 4.47 seconds in the 20-yard shuttle and 7.53 seconds in the 3-cone drill.
Below is a look at Kingston in action during his senior season at USC. He can be seen playing guard and tackle in the following video:
High school days
Kingston played on both sides of the ball at Anderson High School and totaled 53 tackles and 15 sacks as a senior, according to the Redding Record Searchlight. He was rated as a three-star prospect and verbally committed to Washington State before his senior season, then signed with the Cougars in December of 2017. Kingston also participated in the discus throw in track and field and was a state qualifier as a junior.