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San Francisco 49ers: 5 Remaining Areas of Concern after NFL Draft

By Nicholas McGee

Apr 27, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Solomon Thomas (Stanford) poses with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell (right) as he is selected as the number 3 overall pick to the San Francisco 49ers in the first round the 2017 NFL Draft at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 27, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Solomon Thomas (Stanford) poses with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell (right) as he is selected as the number 3 overall pick to the San Francisco 49ers in the first round the 2017 NFL Draft at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 20, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers guard Zane Beadles (68) holds off New England Patriots outside linebacker Rob Ninkovich (50) while San Francisco 49ers tackle Joe Staley (74) holds off New England Patriots defensive end Chris Long (95) ahead of San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) during the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 20, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers guard Zane Beadles (68) holds off New England Patriots outside linebacker Rob Ninkovich (50) while San Francisco 49ers tackle Joe Staley (74) holds off New England Patriots defensive end Chris Long (95) ahead of San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) during the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /

Offensive Line

San Francisco has addressed its O-Line this offseason, bringing in right tackle Gary Gilliam from Seattle and adding experienced interior guys in Tim Barnes and Brandon Fusco after the draft.

The 49ers were wise to ignore an O-Line draft class low on both quality and depth, but their lack of investment in that side of the trenches does leave cause for concern, particularly at tackle.

Trent Brown does not fit the athletic profile for a right tackle in Kyle Shanahan’s scheme and, though he has often impressed in pass-blocking, run-blocking is far from his forte.

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Gilliam, meanwhile, struggled mightily in Seattle as part of an offensive line that ranked No. 26 in run-blocking and No. 25 in pass protection in 2016, per Football Outsiders, and would be at best a below-average starter.

Joe Staley remains one of the better left tackles in the league but, at 32, it remains to be seen how long he can carry on at this level.

The Niners need to look at drafting and grooming Staley’s replacement sooner rather than later and, at this point, cannot be confident in pinning their long-term hopes on either Brown or Gilliam.