With the 2025 NFL Draft approaching, many experts expect the San Francisco 49ers to focus early on rebuilding the trenches. However, general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan recently downplayed the team's offensive line needs during the NFL's annual meeting.
"We like our right tackle. We like our center," Lynch said. "Left guard, we have some candidates in-house right now. ... We'll try to improve our offensive line through the draft, but there are a lot of good pieces there already."
Shanahan added that he felt the entire offensive line has played at a pretty high level. Still, the 49ers are coming off a disappointing six-win season, and one of their biggest looming questions is who will eventually replace future Hall of Famer Trent Williams, who turns 37 before the 2025 campaign. San Francisco also lost starting left guard Aaron Banks in free agency.
Meanwhile, the defensive line is once again undergoing a major overhaul. The 49ers parted ways with Javon Hargrave, Maliek Collins, and Leonard Floyd—leaving clear holes to fill up front.
With the most urgent needs clearly in the trenches, one NFC scout weighed in on what he believes the 49ers' draft strategy should be. But he noted that one key figure might stand in the way of that plan—the head coach.
"This should be an all-trenches draft if Shanahan can resist picking skill players," the scout told ESPN's Matt Miller.
With 11 picks in hand, the scout believes San Francisco should dedicate most of its selections to reinforcing the offensive and defensive lines. However, Shanahan's potential desire for offensive playmakers could complicate that approach. In fact, one 49ers coach acknowledged last year that the team often prioritizes skill positions over position groups like the offensive line.
"This is my personal opinion, if they ask me, invest in guys that touch the ball, guys that can touch the ball and score touchdowns," offensive line coach Chris Foerster said. "... That guy that touches the ball, it makes a huge difference in the game."
Miller emphasized that this year's draft will be pivotal for the 49ers, who must replace several starters and key contributors.
"With 11 selections, the 49ers need to hit on rookies, as starters with inexpensive contracts are badly needed," Miller wrote.
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