Niner Noise
FanSided

San Francisco 49ers: 2018 NFL Draft options to help fix the offensive line

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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AUSTIN, TX – SEPTEMBER 10: Kavika Johnson #7 of the UTEP Miners drops back to pass against the Texas Longhorns during the first half on September 10, 2016 at Royal Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TX – SEPTEMBER 10: Kavika Johnson #7 of the UTEP Miners drops back to pass against the Texas Longhorns during the first half on September 10, 2016 at Royal Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) /

No. 4: Offensive Guard Will Hernandez, UTEP

6-foot-3, 340 pounds

The 49ers shouldn’t bank on a completely healthy return from Joshua Garnett this season, and his rookie year wasn’t enough to suggest he’s a viable starter at the NFL level anyway.

Right guard Brandon Fusco has been a nice fill-in option, but he’s also a pending free agent. Like the case with Daniel Kilgore, it might be smart for the Niners to see if they can land an upgrade with at least one of the two guard spots this offseason.

UTEP’s Will Hernandez is built like a bowling ball, giving him excellent leverage in both run blocking and pass protection. He’s also a three-year starter, and it wouldn’t be a shock to see his stock value climb between now and draft day.

What He Does Well

Hernandez is excellent in run support and does a solid enough job in pass protection. And one of the big things standing out in his tape is the sheer physicality at which he plays:

Additionally, Hernandez also looks natural in pulling out from the guard position to engage defenders on the outside. He’s surprisingly nimble on his feet and hits defenders converging on open lanes with relative ease.

The Concerns

Hernandez lacks length, which could open up some problems if he is in isolation, especially at the pro level.

Over-committing on his blocks can sometimes lead to trouble.

The tape also showed occasional inability to react to quicker moves, and the periodic bull rush caught Hernandez off guard at times. Most of this is technique, though, so it’s not something to worry about too much.

Projected Round: 2