Niner Noise
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San Francisco 49ers: Identifying 10 cornerstone players for 2018

By Peter Panacy

SANTA CLARA, CA - NOVEMBER 05: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers warms up prior to their game against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi's Stadium on November 5, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - NOVEMBER 05: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers warms up prior to their game against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi's Stadium on November 5, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /
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SEATTLE, WA – SEPTEMBER 17: Trent Brown #77 of the San Francisco 49ers stands behind his teammates on the sidelines during the national anthem before the game against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field on September 17, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA – SEPTEMBER 17: Trent Brown #77 of the San Francisco 49ers stands behind his teammates on the sidelines during the national anthem before the game against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field on September 17, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images) /

No. 6: Right Tackle Trent Brown

Week 9 provided a case study what the 49ers may do when the time comes to move on from the veteran left tackle, Joe Staley.

Staley (eye) missed action against the Cardinals, which forced the Niners to swap right tackle Trent Brown over to Staley’s spot. Considering Staley will be 34 years old next season, such a move might be something the 49ers look at for a long-term replacement.

Brown didn’t disappoint either, allowing just one quarterback hurry, per Pro Football Focus (h/t David Fucillo of Niners Nation), and holding his own against Cardinals edge rushers like Hasaan Reddick:

Brown has been one of the few late-round finds from former general manager Trent Baalke, and it might be wise for San Francisco to lock up the 24-year-old veteran sooner than later.