5 Prospects the 49ers Should Watch at the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine

Christian Westerman-Offensive Guard-Arizona State University

The 49ers offensive line was one of the worst in the league in 2015. Whether they bring in free agents or address the position in the draft, no quarterback will succeed behind a line as atrocious as the right side of the 49ers offensive line was for most of last year.

The 49ers may be interested in targeting one of the top tackles in the draft. Ole Miss’ left tackle Laremy Tunsil will likely go in the top 10. Notre Dame’s Ronnie Stanley shouldn’t be far behind him and could go top-10 as well.

Just lower than those two sit Ohio State’s Taylor Decker and Michigan State’s Jack Conklin. If the 49ers are eyeing a tackle, those are the top men in the draft. They’ll all be on display at the Scouting Combine.

But the 49ers might be expecting recently-retired 49er Anthony Davis to make good on his “guarantee” and return in 2016. In the event Davis isn’t at the level he was when he left, the 49ers have sophomore tackle Trent Brown waiting in the wings.

Brown is a project and will need to continually keep his weight in check–he weighed in at the 2015 Scouting Combine at 355 pounds–but he showed some promise at the end of the year.

The guys over at 49×365 have put out plenty of Vines from some of Brown’s impressive plays. The big man can move and, with commitment, could overtake Davis as the starting right tackle next season.

So, the focus turns to the interior offensive line, specifically the guard position. Andrew Tiller played well when given the opportunity but Alex Boone may elect to sign elsewhere, leaving the 49ers with a significant hole to fill. Cody Whitehair is the top interior lineman in this draft. Quite frankly, it doesn’t seem close.

Whitehair may go as early as the end of Round 1 and the 49ers might see other needs as more pressing. If they do, they will need to keep an eye on Arizona State’s Christian Westerman. Westerman will be available later but he has continually impressed in the lead-up to this week’s Scouting Combine. 

If Boone leaves, the 49ers will be missing a mauler inside. Westerman could immediately fill that gap. He’s already got people excited to watch him bench press at the Scouting Combine.

If that type of strength doesn’t get the 49ers excited about Westerman, I’m not sure what will.

At the Combine, the team will have an opportunity to see Westerman in comparison to Whitehair and some of the other top lineman available. Westerman’s training regimen may have him more prepared for success than any other draftee.

He’s training with former-NFL player LeCharles Bentley at his O-Line Performance gym in Arizona. Bentley specializes in not only educating players on the nutritional aspects of athletic development but also in adequate and appropriate tools for offensive line training. Boone was one of Bentley’s first clients and 49er fans have had an opportunity to watch him develop. Westerman could be on the same path.

Westerman is getting a top-notch education from one of the best. That in-depth training and focus will prepare him to perform well in Indianapolis. He isn’t heralded or noticed nearly as much as he should be, but he’s solid and NFL-ready. 

The 49ers should keep an eye on Westerman and consider addressing the guard position by choosing him early in the third round.

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