ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller, a longtime San Francisco 49ers fan, has identified a player he believes would be a perfect fit for the team's offensive line. Miller has long advocated for the 49ers to draft offensive linemen early. However, the earliest the team has done so over the past three drafts was last year, when general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan added Dominick Puni in the third round.
While Miller believes the 11th overall pick might be too early for the selection, he feels that Oregon offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr. could be an excellent addition to the 49ers' blocking scheme.
"Former HS running back turned left tackle and you see that athletic ability in his footwork and movement," Miller wrote on social media. "Thought his development this year was really, really good."
11 overall might be a little early but Josh Conerly would look so good in the 49ers blocking scheme. He's awesome in space.
Former HS running back turned left tackle and you see that athletic ability in his footwork and movement. Thought his development this year was really,…
— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) January 16, 2025
Conerly (6-4, 315) earned first-team All-Big Ten honors in 2024 after starting all 14 games for Oregon. In his final collegiate season, he allowed just nine pressures and one sack on 521 pass-blocking snaps, helping him achieve a career-high 83.3 pass-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus. His 78.9 overall offensive grade and 72.5 run-blocking grade were also career bests.
Primarily playing left tackle for Oregon, Conerly could eventually be a potential successor to Trent Williams, who will be 37 at the start of the 2025 season. Conerly's size and athleticism could make him an intriguing prospect for the 49ers' offensive line.