Originally posted by StubbyNBY:
Man I am starting to have a (bad) feeling we will basically have the same offensive line in 2018 as we did in 2017. Starting out at least.
LT- Joe Staley: He's a rock and still playing at a high level. We do have to start thinking about his replacement though. It may be Trent Brown or maybe a draft pick.
LG- This is the one spot where I do think we will most certainly have a new guy starting. I think we sign a solid veteran FA and draft a guy in the first 3rds to eventually start here. Joshua Garnett will probably also get a shot to start here or possibly RG. I also think Laken Tomlinson played pretty well down the stretch and I think he's worth keeping around. I think he still has some upside and I like him more than Fusco.
C- Daniel Kilgore: The worst center in football got an extension. I just don't see why they like this guy so much. He would make a heck of a back-up but I just don't think he is good enough to be a starter. Maybe if you had two pro-bowl guards around him then maybe you get by with him but that ain't happening anytime soon. I really hope we at least draft a center who can push him and take over in 2019. I love the kid Daniels from Iowa. He would be an absolute perfect fit here and in our system.
RG- Brandon Fusco: Another guy I just don't see why he is thought of so highly by PFF and some others. I mean he's not terrible or as bad as Kilgore but I don't think is a very good starter or should be a starter on a playoff team. I think though they bring him back and he opens up the year as a starter with a draft pick maybe pushing him down the road. Again, Joshua Garnett could also get a look here.
RT- Trent Brown: I thought we were doomed when he went down for the season with his shoulder injury but we not only survived but went 4-0. Still, I consider him very valuable and a really good player who still has room to get better. I really hope he can get in shape, stay focused and healthy and have a long career here. I think he can take over at LT when Staley is finished.
Depth: This is where I think we will certainly improve. I see us drafting a guard in the first 3 rounds and possibly the first round. We won't be able to get Quenton Nelson but I would look at a guy like Issiah Wynn if we trade down. I REALLY like him. I also think we will draft a center, again I love James Daniels and I also like the Cole kid from Michigan. Eric Mangurson should be back and adds good, versatile depth. Same for Gilliam and Joshua Garnett is a wild card.
Stubby i couldn't agree more. But Kilgore was signed ( i believe) so we didn't HAVE to draft a Center high, nor did we have to overpay for Jensen, who on film, doesn't look like the kind of guy we should want. So, i think we draft a C and that guy may very well end up starting over Kilgore...if not initially, then sometime in first 8 games of season.
Fsco, again, if we keep him around it is for depth only, and agree the PFF grades and Fsco's output don't match up. So i think he ends up a backup also, and we draft an OG starter, again maybe not til once the season is underway.
Bingo, the lucky 3rd OL, Laken, probably lots of talent, but i wonder if he wasn't just a really great Collegiate, and not so hot in the pros. I believe he is signed thru this yr so again, he ends up being a backup to the other OG we draft somewhere between #20 and #60 where a lot of equal talent resides.
In summary, John and Kyle have guys we can use if we strike out in Draft, and except after Norwell in FA ( who i would love), there just isn't much there, there. It looks like after Norwell, it is draft time. And to keep from being forced to FA someone not as good as what we already have...and that ain't much...at least we can get to draft and keep our options open, for a C / 2 OGs there. so the guys we have now including Kilgore who was resigned , are just to have something at the OG C OG slots, plus they have already played for Kyle one yr. We aren't going too have to FA a C or OG just because we have a void . We got underperforming guys at all 3 slots ...but at least we have someone, so john doesn't have to take a C because we have NONE.
There was a comment elsewhere re: Garnett, and trade value. Good idea (dtg) but i think he is more valuable if we can get some good play out of him first, and if good enough, or very good, we end up using him as a starter. Right now he is just an unknown, and should NOT be counted on as our starting OG.
[ Edited by pasodoc9er on Mar 3, 2018 at 8:40 AM ]