Many expected the San Francisco 49ers to prioritize offensive line help during the 2025 NFL Draft. Instead, the team waited until the seventh round to select a lineman—guard Connor Colby—raising eyebrows across the NFL landscape.
Rather than loading up on protection for quarterback Brock Purdy, the 49ers doubled down on defense, using early picks to bolster defensive coordinator Robert Saleh's front with rookies Mykel Williams, Alfred Collins, and CJ West.
While upgrading the defensive line was also on the agenda, fans and analysts alike felt there was urgency to fortify the offensive line—especially with Purdy set to command a significant contract extension.
"We wanted to go both," head coach Kyle Shanahan told Tim Kawakami in a podcast interview. "We also wanted to spend some in free agency. Not some—we knew we couldn't spend. We had plans in free agency, but we needed these backups, so we had some contingency. Well, look how much those guys got in free agency."
Indeed, last year's starting left guard, Aaron Banks, landed a massive four-year, $77 million deal with the Green Bay Packers. Jaylon Moore, a reserve tackle, signed with the Kansas City Chiefs for $15 million per year—despite not being a full-time starter.
That's often how free agency unfolds. Those who sign early receive significant paydays.
"Free agency is tough," Shanahan continued. "And if we would have done that, not only would we have lost other guys, but we wouldn't have been able to re-sign [LB] Fred [Warner] or [TE George] Kittle—and it would have been tough with [QB] Brock [Purdy]."
Shanahan said the team remained flexible during the draft but didn't find offensive linemen they felt were clear upgrades over current roster options. Meanwhile, more defensive prospects graded out higher, making decisions easier for Shanahan and the 49ers.
"And then, the draft just pans out that way, and you get in this situation, and that's what happens," Shanahan explained. "Yeah, we're well aware of it."
Still, the 49ers coach pushed back on the notion that the team's offensive line is a weakness.
"If you go from 2019 to 2024, we're the number one team in the league in yards per play," Shanahan said. "Number two is Baltimore, number three is Tampa, and number four is Green Bay and Kansas City tied. And so, all four of those [had] established Hall of Fame quarterbacks, and we've done it with three different guys in those times.
"Why have we been able to? Because we have a really good O-line, but we've spent our money and investments on a really good defense, on good skill players. Could we do that stuff if we didn't have a really good O-line? Not at all. But everyone sees our investments on it, and we made a big one with [LT] Trent [Williams]. It was only a fourth-round pick [that we traded], but we have financially.
"Jake Brendel—go study all the centers in the league. Jake's a hell of a player. [RT] Colton McKivitz, we cut him. He was on practice squad. Then we let a first-round pick go, who got, I think, like $17 million a year, who's a good player, who I really like. I love Mike McGlinchey, but we had to do that so we could sign some other players. ... If anyone really studies Colton, Colton's a really good right tackle, and that's really helped us."
The emergence of third-round pick Dominick Puni at right guard was another key win for the offensive line in 2024.
With Williams locked in at left tackle, Brendel at center, Puni at right guard, and McKivitz on the right edge, the only remaining competition is at left guard. Ben Bartch currently leads the race, though Shanahan expects Nick Zakelj and Spencer Burford to push for the starting job during training camp.
"I know we wanted to invest, but it wasn't the right decision based off of what our choices were," Shanahan concluded. "And that's why we have to keep working to get there, and we are there. We have a solid O-line."
You can listen to Shanahan's entire interview below.