Niner Noise
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San Francisco 49ers: 5 free agents worth targeting in 2018

By Peter Panacy

SANTA CLARA, CA - NOVEMBER 20: Chris Harper #14 of the San Francisco 49ers makes a catch over Malcolm Butler #21 of the New England Patriots during their NFL game at Levi's Stadium on November 20, 2016 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - NOVEMBER 20: Chris Harper #14 of the San Francisco 49ers makes a catch over Malcolm Butler #21 of the New England Patriots during their NFL game at Levi's Stadium on November 20, 2016 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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TAMPA, FL – OCTOBER 01: Evan Smith #62 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers reacts as he leaves the field after a game against the New York Giants at Raymond James Stadium on October 1, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. The Bucs defeated the Giants 25-23. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL – OCTOBER 01: Evan Smith #62 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers reacts as he leaves the field after a game against the New York Giants at Raymond James Stadium on October 1, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. The Bucs defeated the Giants 25-23. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

48. . Offensive Guard. 2017 Base Salary: $3,500,000. Evan Smith. 4. player

Another one of the areas in which San Francisco needs help is along the interior of the offensive line.

Second-year guard Joshua Garnett (knee) is on injured reserve for the season. His replacement, Brandon Fusco, hasn’t held his own in pass protection this season, responsible for a whopping 10 quarterback pressures through Week 5.

Recently acquired guard Laken Tomlinson, a former first-round pick, could develop into something worthwhile, but it’s pretty clear the Niners will want to invest in their O-line this offseason.

A relatively easy option would be to target a player like Tampa Bay Buccaneers guard Evan Smith.

Smith, 31 years old, isn’t exactly a long-term option. But he’d help alleviate the need for O-line upgrades until other options presented themselves. The fact he doubles as a center would provide much-needed insurance for an oft-injured Daniel Kilgore, also a pending free agent, should the Niners elect to re-sign him.

Smith also has a Pro Football Focus grade of 72.3 — comparable to Fusco’s 73.2 mark but more equally distributed in both run support and pass protection, unlike Fusco.

Something in the range of $4.5 million per year might sound right.