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5 49ers Who Could Make San Francisco Playoff Contenders

By Chandler Wright

Nov 1, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets wide receiver DeAndre Smelter (15) scores a receiving touchdown against Virginia Cavaliers cornerback Maurice Canady (26) in the first quarter of their game at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 1, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets wide receiver DeAndre Smelter (15) scores a receiving touchdown against Virginia Cavaliers cornerback Maurice Canady (26) in the first quarter of their game at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /
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Joshua Garnett 49ers
Joshua Garnett 49ers /

Jun 8, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers guard Joshua Garnett (65) runs drills during minicamp at the San Francisco 49ers Practice Facility. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

No. 4: OG Joshua Garnett

I’ll say it over and over again — experts may have over-evaluated guards Cody Whitehair and Joshua Garnett during the draft process. Or maybe, Garnett fit what the 49ers wanted to do on offense more. Either way, general manager Trent Baalke nabbed his replacement for Mike Iupati, and Garnett is a mauler of a run blocker at that.

Garnett was ranked No. 1 among all qualifying guards in college football, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required), in run-blocking grade. Standing at 6-foot-5 and weighing 315 pounds, it’s no wonder he’s a good run blocker. Moving straight ahead with that kind of weight just punishes defenders.

Niernoise.com’s Douglas Totten wrote a great piece called Who is Joshua Garnett?

In it he discusses Garnett’s moving arrangements and academic problems, and also mentions that he doesn’t think Garnett will start as a rookie saying, “Garnett may not be starting this season — though do not put that past him — but he is expected to be a long-term starter for the 49ers at either left or right guard.”

Let’s be a contrarian for a second and say Garnett will start. If he doesn’t, then drafting him 28th in Round 1 makes no sense, or the 49ers’ depth at guard, previously discussed in San Francisco 49ers: 5 Best Position Battles to Watch in Camp, is better than we think.

The second scenario is better than the first, but let’s focus on Garnett and what the starting line should look like. Hopefully it ends up something like this:

  • Left Tackle – Joe Staley
  • Left Guard – Garnett
  • Center – Daniel Kilgore
  • Right Guard – Brandon Thomas
  • Right Tackle – Trent Brown

As long as Garnett plays, it’ll be fine. But wouldn’t it be nice to see 2014 ACL draft pick Brandon Thomas out there too? The 49ers would then have two young cornerstones on their O-line’s interior. This would pay early dividends, as it could bridge the talent and performance gaps that Iupati and Alex Boone left behind, after walking in free agency to the Arizona Cardinals and Minnesota Vikings, respectively.

Next: No. 3, DeAndre Smelter