Niner Noise
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San Francisco 49ers: Offensive line starters, depth-chart predictions

By Peter Panacy

CINCINNATI, OH - SEPTEMBER 25: The San Francisco offensive line prepares to block against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on September 25, 2011 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH - SEPTEMBER 25: The San Francisco offensive line prepares to block against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on September 25, 2011 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) /
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GLENDALE, AZ – NOVEMBER 13: Guard Zane Beadles #68 of the San Francisco 49ers lines up during the second half of the NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium on November 13, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals beat the 49ers 23-20. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ – NOVEMBER 13: Guard Zane Beadles #68 of the San Francisco 49ers lines up during the second half of the NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium on November 13, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals beat the 49ers 23-20. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) /

Rounding Out the Depth Chart

We can likely assume the 49ers will keep at least three, possibly four, backups to reinforce the starting crop along the offensive line this season.

The best bet, of course, would be to have players versatile enough to double at other positions. This was already this case with centers Jeremy Zuttah and Daniel Kilgore on the previous slide, where Kilgore winds up taking over the left guard spot.

But who else will San Francisco keep?

Zane Beadles

Zane Beadles’ contract could be reason enough to keep him around if the Niners were in a poor cap situation. But the team doesn’t have to worry so much about cutting him, should it choose to do so.

Remember, though, Beadles made starts at left tackle, left guard and even saw snaps at center in 2016. This flexibility makes him both an excellent swing-tackle candidate, as well as an “uber” backup of sorts.

Brandon Fusco

Brandon Fusco might be on the roster bubble this offseason, although a gut feeling has him making the 53-man cut.

Sure, the Minnesota Vikings 2016 offensive line was anything but pretty, and Fusco was a part of it for 14 games last year. But his veteran prowess and ability to work at both guard spots makes him a likable backup.

Tim Barnes

Like Fusco, the Niners would probably benefit from having a larger veteran presence along the offensive line than a rookie UDFA.

Barnes was a full-time starter for the Los Angeles Rams the last two years and is a solid backup option behind both Zuttah and Kilgore, especially considering the latter’s injury history.

This would probably push swing tackle Garry Gilliam out of the roster equation, although it’s hard to see that being much of a loss.

As for the rest, well, a handful of UDFAs may wind up on the practice squad. But there isn’t much to like about such a raw group of rookies with regards to starting in 2017.