Heading into the 2025 NFL Draft, the offensive line was considered one of the San Francisco 49ers' most pressing needs, with many mock drafts even projecting an offensive lineman at the 11th overall pick.
While the 49ers did select an offensive lineman, they didn't do so until the seventh round, when they picked Iowa guard Connor Colby. Tackle was widely seen as the more immediate need, especially with Trent Williams set to turn 37 ahead of the 2025 season.
The 49ers are negotiating a contract extension with quarterback Brock Purdy, so protecting this soon-to-be costly investment would seem like a top priority.
"We were able to do that in the seventh round with Connor Colby," general manager John Lynch explained to reporters after the draft. "But yeah, there were a number of times that we were interested in adding, and it just didn't come our way. You've got to stay true to where you have guys graded, not take guys just to take them, but to take guys that you're interested in at that point. And it just never really aligned.
"And so, we were happy to add Colby. We think he's a really good scheme fit. The great thing about Iowa is they run a very similar [scheme]. They run a lot of outside zones, so you get to see a guy like him do things that we do, and he does them well.
"So, we're happy to add that, but there were a number of times Kyle and I were talking about that at the end—that just didn't align. One of those deals, and you don't want to force things. And so, it wasn't our time for that, other than Connor, and we'll move forward."
When asked if Colby might be tested at one of the tackle spots, Lynch emphasized that the 49ers view him as a guard.
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