49ers: 5 offensive linemen San Francisco should target in 2018

Frank Ragnow, Center, Arkansas

At the center position for the 49ers, I have coveted Sean Welsh out of Iowa as No. 2 on my big board.

Specifically, Welsh is capable of playing both guard and center with little effort, and due to glaring critical needs at linebacker and cornerback, it only makes sense the organization look to the later rounds to pick up road-grading interior linemen.

At 6-foot-5, 315 pounds, playing in 33-career games as a Razorback, Frank Ragnow is a versatile center also capable of moving to the guard position. Ragnow is rated the No. 3 interior lineman on my big board, mainly due to his versatility, but his ferocious demeanor, outstanding physical attributes and bringing bad intentions on every play is what caught my eye.

Playing against some of the best athletes in the SEC, Ragnow did not give up a sack in over 2,600 snaps, and only missed 43 offensive snaps since becoming a permanent starter as a sophomore in 2015. However, suffering a high-ankle sprain, Ragnow was unable to finish off his 2017 campaign.

According to ArkansasRazorbacks.com, former Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema says this of Ragnow:

"I’ve had a handful of offensive linemen drafted in the first round and he is at their level if not even higher. I put him in the same category as guys like Kevin Zeitler (RG, Cleveland Browns), a guy who started as a rookie and was a first-round draft pick, and Joe Thomas (LT, Cleveland Browns)."

High accolades for the young man out of Victoria, Minnesota, slated to come off the board in the second to third round. Frank Ragnow is certainly 49ers worthy.

In my humble opinion, John Lynch and Co. should take a good long look at the interior lineman position with versatility in mind.