Niner Noise
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San Francisco 49ers: Ranking the 10 most important players in 2018

By Aaron Tan

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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SANTA CLARA, CA – NOVEMBER 6: Guard Joshua Garnett #65 of the San Francisco 49ers prepares for a game against the New Orleans Saints on November, 6 2016 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. The Saints won 41-23. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA – NOVEMBER 6: Guard Joshua Garnett #65 of the San Francisco 49ers prepares for a game against the New Orleans Saints on November, 6 2016 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. The Saints won 41-23. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /

No. 10: Offensive Guard Joshua Garnett

I ran into Joshua Garnett, a former first-round guard coming off of a disappointing rookie season, at the 49ers open practice last August. His leg was wrapped up and he had just suffered a knee injury that would later force him to have surgery. Nevertheless, he was motivated when I talked to him.

He told me that “[I] should be excited. We’re gonna win games and kick a lot of a– this year.”

That displays a lot about Garnett’s mentality. Even though he had just suffered a serious injury that would end his 2017 season, Garnett was motivated to win games under the new regime and prove that he wasn’t just another one of former general manager Trent Baalke’s busts.

Fortunately, Garnett’s return fills a need for the 49ers. I’m seeing a whole lot of writers and fans alike saying the 49ers need to pursue a surefire guard, or two, in free agency/NFL Draft. I think that people are too quick to write off Garnett to label offensive guard as one of the team’s biggest needs.

I believe that Garnett will come back in the 2018 season more motivated than ever, greatly impacting the strength of the offensive line to open holes in the run game and protect the team’s new franchise quarterback.