Niner Noise
FanSided

San Francisco 49ers: Re-Ranking NFL Draft Positional Priorities after Free Agency

By Peter Panacy

Aug 20, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; A general view of the San Francisco 49ers helmet before game against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The 49ers beat the Broncos 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Troy Babbitt-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 20, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; A general view of the San Francisco 49ers helmet before game against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The 49ers beat the Broncos 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Troy Babbitt-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 6
Next
Oct 2, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers tackle Joe Staley (74) warms up with his team prior to the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 2, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers tackle Joe Staley (74) warms up with his team prior to the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 3: Offensive Line

Was San Francisco’s offensive line better in 2016 than it was the year before? Yes. Is this unit close to being good? Not exactly.

According to Football Outsiders, the Niners O-line ranked 30th in pass protection and dead last in run blocking a year ago. The way things stand now, there won’t be any changes along the line either. The same core of starters — Joe Staley, Zane Beadles, Daniel Kilgore, Joshua Garnett and Trent Brown — are already penciled in for 2017.

More from SF 49ers Draft

San Francisco might want to consider a long-term replacement for the 32-year-old Staley sooner rather than later. And Kilgore’s injury history raises some concerns.

Garnett, whose rookie season netted a 42.4 Pro Football Focus grade last year, must show improvement in 2017 to justify his first-round selection.

And Brown isn’t exactly an ideal fit in head coach Kyle Shanahan’s outside-zone scheme.

Then there’s Beadles. The seven-year pro posted a 40.2 overall PFF grade a season ago and, aside from his versatility, remains one of the weaker links along the line.

The problem here is the NFL Draft isn’t exactly deep at O-line talent. But adding a player, or two, with either a high upside or the chance of being an adequate backup will be key.