49ers roster analysis: Are are changes coming to the O-line?
This is the seventh of a nine-part series breaking down each position on the 49ers roster before the start of free agency begins March 18. Here, we’ll take a look at the offensive line.
The 49ers didn’t have a pressing need at offensive tackle heading into the 2018 draft. They had left tackle Joe Staley still playing at a high level in his early 30s. At right tackle was the emergent Trent Brown, a seventh-round pick in 2015 who blossomed into one of the most effective pass blockers in the league.
But Brown, then 25, was a year away from getting paid. Really paid. He wound up signing the largest contract for an offensive lineman in NFL history when he inked a four-year, $66-million contract with the Raiders in 2019.
The 49ers considered giving Brown that kind of top-of-the-market contract. But there were questions about his commitment to conditioning (weight issues were among the reasons he went so late in the draft). Brown would tell reporters he wouldn’t need to watch film because he was talented enough to handle whatever opponents threw at him. That didn’t exactly endear him to the coaching staff, even if he wasn’t wrong.
It was widely believed heading into the 2018 draft the 49ers would address their defense. They had needs at every level and a slew of prospects made sense. Safety Derwin James, defensive end Marcus Davenport, linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, cornerback Jaire Alexander and others were all projected to San Francisco in various mock drafts.
Yet the 49ers went a direction few saw coming. They took Notre Dame tackle Mike McGlinchey, even with Brown already on the roster. It led to an awkward news conference in which Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch knew they were talking with the Patriots about trading Brown but were operating under secrecy. Shanahan and Lynch, of course, are known for struggling to lie, which is part of the messaging game among NFL power brokers.
“I have not spoken with him,” said Shanahan of Brown after McGlinchey was drafted. “And his status on this team is that he’s on our team. I’m glad we have some competition, some very good competition.”
It turns out there was no competition. Brown was traded to New England for a 2018 third-round pick, which the team used on defensive back Tarvarius Moore.
In going with McGlinchey, the 49ers got a foundational piece, who fits their culture, on an affordable contract, rather than giving Brown the massive deal he was due a year later (the Patriots decided to let Brown leave in free agency after winning the Super Bowl).
The move showed the value Shanahan places at tackle. And the decision to forgo a first-round prospect on the defensive line didn’t end up hurting the 49ers as many initially thought. San Francisco had arguably the best defense in the NFL last season.
Let’s take a look at where things stand along the offensive front heading into 2020.
What happened in 2019
The 49ers dealt with injuries early in the year, which made their 8-0 start impressive while many didn’t believe San Francisco was a contender because of a soft schedule.
Shanahan schemed around the losses of Staley (fractured fibula) and McGlinchey (torn meniscus) with sixth-round pick Justin Skule and former undrafted free agent, and AAF player, Daniel Brusnkill. Both lesser-known players performed admirably and became emblematic of a theme throughout the season: reserve players playing important roles.
Staley wound up playing a career-low seven games during the regular season because he fractured and dislocated a finger in his first game back against the Seahawks in November, a game in which he didn’t play well and admitted to returning from his leg injury too early. McGlinchey sat four games, missing action for the first time since he started playing at the youth level.
Center Weston Richburg returned from offseason surgery, missing training camp and the preseason, and played well before a torn patellar tendon in early December ended his season. He was replaced by Ben Garland. Left guard Laken Tomlinson had a strong season. Veteran Mike Person dealt with stingers throughout the year and missed two games with a neck injury, but was mostly good throughout the season.
The 49ers allowed 36 sacks, tied for the 14th in the NFL, while the team ran for 2,305 yards, ranking second behind only the Baltimore Ravens.
Unfortunately for San Francisco, Person and Garland were taken advantage of by Chiefs star defensive tackle Chris Jones, who was crucial in Kansas City’s fourth-quarter Super Bowl comeback, which included knocking down a pair of passes at the line of scrimmage.
Still, Staley, Tomlinson, Richburg, Person and McGlinchey are all signed through at least 2021 which has the 49ers optimistic about the continuity of their group.
Changes looming
Garland is a free agent who was a valuable player on the margins of the roster. Shon Coleman, who was expected to be the “swing” tackle is also unsigned. He was lost for the year when he fractured his ankle in the first preseason game, but Brunskill and Skule may have overtaken him after having strong seasons.
The team doesn’t have much cap space and only six draft picks, the second fewest in the NFL. It appears unlikely there were be any significant changes along the offensive line.
How pressing is the need?
Richburg dealing with a significant leg injury for the second straight offseason is worth monitoring. And Person, one of the most well liked players on the team, will turn 32 in June. Adding an interior offensive lineman that could play guard and center would be justifiable.
Otherwise, Skule and Brunskill give the 49ers quality depth options that might prevent them from making sweeping changes. Brunskill might be in the mix to start over Person after the team tendered him a one-year contract as an exclusive rights free agent earlier this month.
Free agents and draft prospects to consider
Cesar Ruiz of Michigan or Matt Hennessy of Temple could options late in the first round, if the 49ers don’t trade back from the 31st overall pick.
In free agency, Coleman Shelton (Rams) spent time with San Francisco during the 2018 offseason. He appeared in 11 games last season running a similar offensive scheme under coach Sean McVay. Austin Blythe, who turns 28 in June, could also be available after starting 31 games for the Rams over the past two seasons.
This story was originally published March 18, 2020 at 4:00 AM.