San Francisco 49ers: Ranking Top 5 Needs in 2016 NFL Draft
By Peter Panacy
No. 2: Offensive Line
Players on Roster: Trent Brown, Jordan Devey, Colin Kelly, Daniel Kilgore, Marcus Martin, Erik Pears, Ian Silberman, Joe Staley, Brandon Thomas, Andrew Tiller
The 49ers offensive line was one of the primary weak spots out of many on the roster, and especially on the right side.
Without diving too far into the statistics, it’s safe to say San Francisco needs some hefty upgrades within this unit. And it’s a unit which lost veteran left guard Alex Boone to free agency this offseason.
Only two spots appear to be solidified heading into 2016: left tackle (Joe Staley) and center (Daniel Kilgore). The rest are, essentially, up for grabs. Retired right tackle Anthony Davis has made overtures of a return. But even if he does, there isn’t any guarantee he’ll be in shape to lock down a spot right away.
On the positive side of things, guard Andrew Tiller and tackle Trent Brown showcased some ability last season. Although this is offset by the disappointments from guard Brandon Thomas and center Marcus Martin.
San Francisco could use one, likely two worthy draft picks to solidify this unit and add some worthy competition for training camp and the preseason.
So don’t be surprised to see general manager Trent Baalke spend at least two or three draft picks to find some workable talent to reinforce this questionable unit when the NFL draft rolls around.
Next: No. 1: Quarterback