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San Francisco 49ers: Reevaluating 6 team needs in the 2018 NFL Draft

By Peter Panacy

Commissioner Roger Goodell names a pick by the San Francisco 49ers during the 2016 NFL Draft (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images)
Commissioner Roger Goodell names a pick by the San Francisco 49ers during the 2016 NFL Draft (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images) /
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GLENDALE, AZ – NOVEMBER 13: Offensive guard Joshua Garnett #65 (center) 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: Offensive guard Joshua Garnett #65 (center) 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) /

No. 2: Offensive Line

The 49ers could probably stand for upgrades at four of the five starting offensive line positions in 2018.

Despite some questions about his scheme fit, right tackle Trent Brown has done a worthy job, posting an 83.5 overall grade this season, per Pro Football Focus.

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    • Left tackle Joe Staley is aging, although that’s a problem San Francisco might want to push off for 2019 or later.

    That narrows the 49ers’ needs down to the three interior O-line positions.

    Center Daniel Kilgore is a pending free agent. And while he has held his own the last three seasons, an injury history might convince general manager John Lynch to look elsewhere. Perhaps the answer is undrafted free agent Erik Magnuson, but that’s a lot to ask from a player likely best suited for a backup role.

    The guard spots are troubling.

    Second-year guard Joshua Garnett, who struggled his rookie season, ended up on season-ending injured reserve with a knee injury. It might be a bit premature to write off the former first-round draft pick right now, but his development is certainly far behind.

    San Francisco also brought in another former first-round draft pick, Laken Tomlinson, via a trade earlier this offseason. He’s been an upgrade over Zane Beadles for two games. But with a 38.0 overall PFF grade, it’s not by much.

    As such, it wouldn’t be a shock to see the Niners invest an early pick to address the O-line concerns.