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Five 25-or-Under NFL Free Agents the 49ers Should Target

By Nicholas McGee

Jan 7, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans cornerback A.J. Bouye (21) and strong safety Corey Moore (43) and cornerback Johnathan Joseph (24) and defensive back Robert Nelson (32) celebrate an interception against the Oakland Raiders during the AFC Wild Card playoff football game at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 7, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans cornerback A.J. Bouye (21) and strong safety Corey Moore (43) and cornerback Johnathan Joseph (24) and defensive back Robert Nelson (32) celebrate an interception against the Oakland Raiders during the AFC Wild Card playoff football game at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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NFL: Detroit Lions at Pittsburgh Steelers
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Offensive Guard Larry Warford

The 49ers were slightly better on the offensive line in 2016, but improvements still need to be made.

Baalke invested heavily in the trenches and drafted Joshua Garnett in the first round in 2016.

Garnett showed flashes of what he can do, particularly in the run game. And if he continues to develop, then the 49ers should have an exciting young guard on their books.

But Beadles was far from impressive in his first season with San Francisco, and the 49ers could use an upgrade on the interior of the O-Line.

Under Baalke’s stewardship, spending big money on the O-line was not something the Niners considered. If Lynch decides to change that policy, then Detroit Lions guard Larry Warford could be an option.

Warford, per the Detroit Free Press, is considering entering free agency and is likely to command significant money on the open market.

Inside The Pylon’s Brandon Thorn has described Warford as a top-flight NFL guard. And, in this cut up of Warford from Thorn, you see why he is regarded as such:

https://twitter.com/VeteranScout/status/778676704436850690

Warford displays excellent strength and has the brute force to overwhelm defenders in both the pass and the run game. He also has the awareness and athleticism to locate and pick up secondary assignments on the fly.

The young members of the 49ers’ O-line need experience heads around them. With four seasons under his belt, Warford has both experience and upside and could be a long-term cornerstone of that group.