Why don't the 49ers spend more draft capital on the OL?

Originally posted by Scoots:

Originally posted by SanDiego49er:
They dug one all the way out from Australia which is unusual but innovative. Good for them on that one. Lane Johnson was picked very high. But it was years ago. Still he was a high pick. Or Sewell for the Lions if you want to use that as an example. Trent Williams even who wasn't drafted by us. But went very high when he was picked. We later got him in a trade. There is gold there. But you have to PICK it. Nobody is saying every pick every year or every high pick. There are other needs. But you can't completely ignore it either like the 49ers do. That's not a recipe for success.

So the Eagles have used 4 picks in the first 2 days of the draft over 9 years and the 49ers have used 3. That's pretty close to each other, and certainly implies the 49ers are "ignoring" it fairly similarly to the way the Eagles are ignoring it.

I wonder if, for LT, it makes more sense to sign rather than to draft them? About half the top LTs are not on the team that drafted them, and the ones that are on the team that drafted them are not yet on their 3rd contract where the big jump usually happens. But on the way to getting and developing those players teams burn a number of picks that don't develop, while free agency should be safer, if more expensive.

I proved how much the Eagles pay attention to the offensive line vs us in the Lynch thread. They pick it more often and higher. Some years we don't pick it at all. Go to Lynch and page back a few. I did a comparison of our two teams. They pick more of them, more often and higher. Surprise, surprise they have more success with it too.

Originally posted by SanDiego49er:
I proved how much the Eagles pay attention to the offensive line vs us in the Lynch thread. They pick it more often and higher. Some years we don't pick it at all. Go to Lynch and page back a few. I did a comparison of our two teams. They pick more of them, more often and higher. Surprise, surprise they have more success with it too.

Again, since Lynch and Shanny have been with the 49ers the Eagles have picked exactly 1 more OL in the first 3 rounds than the 49ers. I think the difference isn't that they pick more often but that they do a better job developing them and/or do a better job in evaluating them before they draft them. But it certainly doesn't seem to be that they do it all that more often.

The Eagles are also paying nearly $100M for their starting OL and that certainly makes a difference too. If the 49ers took that approach I guess the line would be Trent, Tomlinson, Brunskill, Puni, McGlinchy, with Banks, McKivitz, and Moore on the bench. But the team wouldn't have Fred Warner or Bosa or Aiyuk.

Originally posted by CatchMaster80:
I think part of the problem is because there aren't a lot of great OL players each year. The Niners are usually drafting near the end of the round and the few great lineman are gone by then. Another issue is not every O lineman is a good fit for the zone blocking scheme that Kyle runs. This year the Niners had a decent draft position but it was a very weak year for O line. On top of that they really wanted to upgrade the defensive front.

I think we figured there was little OL available and the hit rate seemingly is lower, so they rather go for guys they really like and take their time to develop them.

Originally posted by Scoots:

Originally posted by SanDiego49er:
I proved how much the Eagles pay attention to the offensive line vs us in the Lynch thread. They pick it more often and higher. Some years we don't pick it at all. Go to Lynch and page back a few. I did a comparison of our two teams. They pick more of them, more often and higher. Surprise, surprise they have more success with it too.

Again, since Lynch and Shanny have been with the 49ers the Eagles have picked exactly 1 more OL in the first 3 rounds than the 49ers. I think the difference isn't that they pick more often but that they do a better job developing them and/or do a better job in evaluating them before they draft them. But it certainly doesn't seem to be that they do it all that more often.

The Eagles are also paying nearly $100M for their starting OL and that certainly makes a difference too. If the 49ers took that approach I guess the line would be Trent, Tomlinson, Brunskill, Puni, McGlinchy, with Banks, McKivitz, and Moore on the bench. But the team wouldn't have Fred Warner or Bosa or Aiyuk.

The Eagles just nail those OL picks and they have the best OL coach in the game. Jordan Mialata was a 7th round pick. They took Landon Dickerson just outside of round 1. They took Cam Jurgens 10 picks before we took Drake Jackson

In an alternate world, imagine we take Tristen Wirfs instead of Kinlaw. I will say this creates a hole because we used that 4th round pick to trade up for Aiyuk. Not sure what to do there as we had little draft capital in 2020. Would Aiyuk have fallen to 31?

Then in 2021, instead of Banks, we take Creed Humphrey. The line looks totally different. Realistically, the Creed over Banks is the big one as we at least would still have Aiyuk.

Originally posted by Scoots:

Originally posted by SanDiego49er:
I proved how much the Eagles pay attention to the offensive line vs us in the Lynch thread. They pick it more often and higher. Some years we don't pick it at all. Go to Lynch and page back a few. I did a comparison of our two teams. They pick more of them, more often and higher. Surprise, surprise they have more success with it too.

Again, since Lynch and Shanny have been with the 49ers the Eagles have picked exactly 1 more OL in the first 3 rounds than the 49ers. I think the difference isn't that they pick more often but that they do a better job developing them and/or do a better job in evaluating them before they draft them. But it certainly doesn't seem to be that they do it all that more often.

The Eagles are also paying nearly $100M for their starting OL and that certainly makes a difference too. If the 49ers took that approach I guess the line would be Trent, Tomlinson, Brunskill, Puni, McGlinchy, with Banks, McKivitz, and Moore on the bench. But the team wouldn't have Fred Warner or Bosa or Aiyuk.

I did my comparison since Sirianni. He's 5 years. 4 + the new draft of 2025 = 5. Shany/Lynch have been there 9 years. So with this new regime the Eagles have picked more and higher and more often than we do. Look at the post I built in the Lynch thread. I went thew them all and proved it. In the past and prior regimes they have also landed a huge bulldozer from Australia (Jordan Mailata) and picked Lane Johnson very high up in the 1st round. Howie Roseman the GM has always been a line and trenches guy. With prior regimes and with this one with Sirianni.

But by any standard or measure the Eagles offensive line is better than ours. No matter who constituted or picked or what regime picked them. I wish we had an offensive line like theirs or the the Lions with studs like Sewell. We have work to do on our very average to sub par offensive line.

Originally posted by SanDiego49er:
I did my comparison since Sirianni. He's 5 years. 4 + the new draft of 2025 = 5. Shany/Lynch have been there 9 years. So with this new regime the Eagles have picked more and higher and more often than we do. Look at the post I built in the Lynch thread. I went thew them all and proved it. In the past and prior regimes they have also landed a huge bulldozer from Australia (Jordan Mailata) and picked Lane Johnson very high up in the 1st round. Howie Roseman the GM has always been a line and trenches guy. With prior regimes and with this one with Sirianni.

But by any standard or measure the Eagles offensive line is better than ours. No matter who constituted or picked or what regime picked them. I wish we had an offensive line like theirs or the the Lions with studs like Sewell. We have work to do on our very average to sub par offensive line.

You think the Eagles picked 5 OL early in the last 5 years?

You also just completely dismissed the money factor.

Originally posted by Scoots:

Originally posted by SanDiego49er:
I did my comparison since Sirianni. He's 5 years. 4 + the new draft of 2025 = 5. Shany/Lynch have been there 9 years. So with this new regime the Eagles have picked more and higher and more often than we do. Look at the post I built in the Lynch thread. I went thew them all and proved it. In the past and prior regimes they have also landed a huge bulldozer from Australia (Jordan Mailata) and picked Lane Johnson very high up in the 1st round. Howie Roseman the GM has always been a line and trenches guy. With prior regimes and with this one with Sirianni.

But by any standard or measure the Eagles offensive line is better than ours. No matter who constituted or picked or what regime picked them. I wish we had an offensive line like theirs or the the Lions with studs like Sewell. We have work to do on our very average to sub par offensive line.

You think the Eagles picked 5 OL early in the last 5 years?

You also just completely dismissed the money factor.

They have picked some 2nd round guys. Who are starters on their line. We rarely pick it before the 3rd round and Puni. He is awesome. But more typical is 4, 5, 6, 7 or UDFA for us or FA who is 3rd or 4th tier for lower money.

Yeah a high paid offensive line will be a better one. That's common sense right. We should invest more there. Both draft capital and money. Outside of TW and Puni we don't really have much. Eagles have like 5 stars out there. Lions have multiple stars led by Sewell.

Originally posted by SanDiego49er:
They have picked some 2nd round guys. Who are starters on their line. We rarely pick it before the 3rd round and Puni. He is awesome. But more typical is 4, 5, 6, 7 or UDFA for us or FA who is 3rd or 4th tier for lower money.

Yeah a high paid offensive line will be a better one. That's common sense right. We should invest more there. Both draft capital and money. Outside of TW and Puni we don't really have much. Eagles have like 5 stars out there. Lions have multiple stars led by Sewell.

So ... the Eagles had 4 in the last 9 years in the top 3 rounds. The 49ers in the same time took McGlinchy in the 1st, Banks in the 2nd, and Puni in the 3rd. All worked out but 2 were allowed to leave as FAs.

It's not that they are not drafting enough early, it's that they are unwilling to pay the line that much money. They have decided to have defensive stars rather than a better OL and it's the money more than the draft.

Originally posted by Scoots:

Originally posted by SanDiego49er:
They have picked some 2nd round guys. Who are starters on their line. We rarely pick it before the 3rd round and Puni. He is awesome. But more typical is 4, 5, 6, 7 or UDFA for us or FA who is 3rd or 4th tier for lower money.

Yeah a high paid offensive line will be a better one. That's common sense right. We should invest more there. Both draft capital and money. Outside of TW and Puni we don't really have much. Eagles have like 5 stars out there. Lions have multiple stars led by Sewell.

So ... the Eagles had 4 in the last 9 years in the top 3 rounds. The 49ers in the same time took McGlinchy in the 1st, Banks in the 2nd, and Puni in the 3rd. All worked out but 2 were allowed to leave as FAs.

It's not that they are not drafting enough early, it's that they are unwilling to pay the line that much money. They have decided to have defensive stars rather than a better OL and it's the money more than the draft.

I agree that they let too many leave and don't pay enough to field a quality offensive line. We agree on that.

Originally posted by SanDiego49er:
The point is they PICK it. 64 is SUPER HIGH for the 49ers if you were talking offensive line. They rarely if ever pick that high for offensive line. I guess you could point to McGlinchey. Who was ok but not great. But they have been at this now for 9 years and you couldn't find too many examples where they take it high. Some years they don't even pick it at all. Look up their drafts. 64 is 2nd round. Not really that bad. Considered pretty high of a pick. It's not like top 10 or top 20 or top 25. That's true.

9ers have taken 2 lineman higher than that.

9ers are only team to not use at least one top 50 pick on a DB during the ShananLynch era.

Originally posted by SanDiego49er:
I proved how much the Eagles pay attention to the offensive line vs us in the Lynch thread. They pick it more often and higher. Some years we don't pick it at all. Go to Lynch and page back a few. I did a comparison of our two teams. They pick more of them, more often and higher. Surprise, surprise they have more success with it too.

So do the Giants Texans and Chargers. None of whom have a better OL than the 9ers.

Originally posted by 9ers4eva:

Originally posted by SanDiego49er:
The point is they PICK it. 64 is SUPER HIGH for the 49ers if you were talking offensive line. They rarely if ever pick that high for offensive line. I guess you could point to McGlinchey. Who was ok but not great. But they have been at this now for 9 years and you couldn't find too many examples where they take it high. Some years they don't even pick it at all. Look up their drafts. 64 is 2nd round. Not really that bad. Considered pretty high of a pick. It's not like top 10 or top 20 or top 25. That's true.

9ers have taken 2 lineman higher than that.

9ers are only team to not use at least one top 50 pick on a DB during the ShananLynch era.

Prior years a LONG time ago. Mc_FLINCHEY and Banks. Both gone in FA and both not as good as the picks. So I don't think you have a good argument there.

Originally posted by 9ers4eva:

Originally posted by SanDiego49er:
I proved how much the Eagles pay attention to the offensive line vs us in the Lynch thread. They pick it more often and higher. Some years we don't pick it at all. Go to Lynch and page back a few. I did a comparison of our two teams. They pick more of them, more often and higher. Surprise, surprise they have more success with it too.

So do the Giants Texans and Chargers. None of whom have a better OL than the 9ers.

I'll take Joe Alt on this team right now over anybody but TW. Given their age and injury differential I think you could make a good argument for Alt too. Williams has way less years left and good years. He's huge and his dad taught him all the technique too as a former NFL player.

Joe Alt - 1 - 5th overall - Notre Dame - Chargers - 2024 - 6'8-5/8" 322 lbs. 5.05 40 yard dash. 27 reps bench press. He's almost 6'9". He's a huge imposing Tackle and his dad was a former All Pro who taught him all the technique.

Originally posted by SanDiego49er:
I'll take Joe Alt on this team right now over anybody but TW. Given their age and injury differential I think you could make a good argument for Alt too. Williams has way less years left and good years. He's huge and his dad taught him all the technique too as a former NFL player.

Joe Alt - 1 - 5th overall - Notre Dame - Chargers - 2024 - 6'8-5/8" 322 lbs. 5.05 40 yard dash. 27 reps bench press. He's almost 6'9". He's a huge imposing Tackle and his dad was a former All Pro who taught him all the technique.

They also have 2 more first rounders on their line. How come they aren't the best O line in the league? Texans had all sorts of high picks on their O line. Cowboys too.

Originally posted by SanDiego49er:
Prior years a LONG time ago. Mc_FLINCHEY and Banks. Both gone in FA and both not as good as the picks. So I don't think you have a good argument there.

Still beats never taking a DB when everyone else has.

Reality is taking an OL in the first is no longer any safer than any other position. Take the best player you can. I'd just like a top 50 DB once.

Originally posted by 9ers4eva:

Originally posted by SanDiego49er:
I'll take Joe Alt on this team right now over anybody but TW. Given their age and injury differential I think you could make a good argument for Alt too. Williams has way less years left and good years. He's huge and his dad taught him all the technique too as a former NFL player.

Joe Alt - 1 - 5th overall - Notre Dame - Chargers - 2024 - 6'8-5/8" 322 lbs. 5.05 40 yard dash. 27 reps bench press. He's almost 6'9". He's a huge imposing Tackle and his dad was a former All Pro who taught him all the technique.

They also have 2 more first rounders on their line. How come they aren't the best O line in the league? Texans had all sorts of high picks on their O line. Cowboys too.

The talent level and athleticism on that line is much better than ours. Much earlier and higher drafted guys. Some as free agents like Becton. Other than TW who is getting much older and injured and Puni I don't think you can make the argument much for our offensive line. I'd say theirs is better than us. I would take that line over us. Higher draft picks, bigger, more athletic, younger, less injured. I can't think of a way we are better. Only Puni maybe would measure up. TW is fast approaching closer to 40 now. So I'm not sure I would put him above a lot of those guys for the long run anyway. Maybe for 1 more year you could make the argument.