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2016 NFL Draft: Round 1 Big Board for the San Francisco 49ers

By Peter Panacy

Feb 25, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; California quarterback Jared Goff speaks to the media during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 25, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; California quarterback Jared Goff speaks to the media during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 24, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish offensive lineman Ronnie Stanley speaks to the media during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 24, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish offensive lineman Ronnie Stanley speaks to the media during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /

Offensive Tackle Ronnie Stanley, Notre Dame

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Building a team by starting with in-the-trenches guys first is never a bad approach. And if the 49ers had an option to grab Notre Dame All-American tackle Ronnie Stanley in Round 1, it wouldn’t be a bad move at all.

The 6’6″, 315-pound Stanley would be an immediate upgrade over anything the 49ers employed at right tackle last season. And he would bookend a Niners offensive line entering this offseason with plenty of question marks.

Aside from left tackle Joe Staley and center Daniel Kilgore, there really isn’t any established O-lineman worthy of a starting job just yet. Could guard Andrew Tiller continue to impress? Or tackle Trent Brown? Perhaps. Yet there isn’t a clear-cut conclusion here.

Retired right tackle Anthony Davis appears poised for a return to NFL action. Yet he may not be in game-ready shape. And the 49ers may consider him for a guard position especially if left guard Alex Boone departs via free agency, which it’s looking more and more daily he will.

Stanley played the last three seasons at left tackle, so switching to the right side may require some adjustment.

Yet he’s far too good a player to pass up if the aforementioned options aren’t there for San Francisco.

Next: Option 5: WR Laquon Treadwell