5 NFL Draft Picks that Could Jumpstart the 49ers Rebuild
By Robert Smith
Isaac Asiata, G/C, Utah Utes
Games are won in the trenches. When the game is on the line, and you need two yards to seal a win or get in field goal range, the unsexy offensive line pick suddenly seems like a pretty saavy choice.
The 49ers made strides along the offensive line in 2016, ranking fourth in the NFL in rushing with 2019 yards. However, reinforcements and replacements are what separate the contenders and pretenders come playoff time.
With Joe Staley getting a bit longer in the tooth and Daniel Kilgore having only the underwhelming Marcus Martin behind him on the depth chart, Utah’s Isaac Asiata could be the versatile lineman the 49ers could use.
In his four years at Utah, the 6-foot-3, 325-pound has played right tackle, left guard and even center for the Utes.
He is a three time all-conference selection in the PAC-12, showing agility and quickness in his run blocking while vastly improving his pass protection over the last season.
Regardless of the system Kyle Shanahan decides to install, Asiata would fit well with his size and speed.
And with Staley, Trent Brown, Joshua Garnett and Zane Beadles, adding another bruiser up front would improve the versatility and depth of this group.