Niner Noise
FanSided

Predicting the 49ers’ 2018 starting lineup after opening wave of NFL free agency

By Peter Panacy

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 31: Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers congratulates Marquise Goodwin #11 of the San Francisco 49ers after scoring a touchdown during the first quarter against Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 31, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 31: Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers congratulates Marquise Goodwin #11 of the San Francisco 49ers after scoring a touchdown during the first quarter against Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 31, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /
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GREEN BAY, WI – JANUARY 8: Weston Richburg #70 of the New York Giants sits on the sideline in the third quarter during the NFC Wild Card game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on January 8, 2017 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
GREEN BAY, WI – JANUARY 8: Weston Richburg #70 of the New York Giants sits on the sideline in the third quarter during the NFC Wild Card game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on January 8, 2017 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

Offensive Line

Left Tackle: Joe Staley

Left Guard: Andrew Norwell, Joshua Garnett

Center: Daniel Kilgore, Weston Richburg

Right Guard: Joshua Garnett, Braden Smith

Right Tackle: Trent Brown

Wow. A lot of changes here.

One of the bigger free-agent splashes the 49ers made this offseason was to bring in former New York Giants center Weston Richburg on a five-year deal.

Richburg (concussion) posted a 71.3 overall grade on an abbreviated four-game season last year, per Pro Football Focus, but he’s only three seasons removed from an impressive 86.5 overall mark in 2015. Plus, his fit in head coach Kyle Shanahan’s outside-zone scheme should help boost those numbers from a year ago.

The acquisition also led the way for the Niners to trade former center Daniel Kilgore to the Miami Dolphins on day two of free agency.

Guard play is still an issue, though.

San Francisco could make a move in free agency, although it’s likely the team will do so in the draft. Fortunately the crop of guards is pretty deep this year, affording some likable options.

In this prediction, the 49ers go with a veteran presence — Joshua Garnett winning over Laken Tomlinson along the left side. It’s a stretch, as we still don’t know what the current regime sees in Garnett.

On the right, the Niners tab Auburn’s Braden Smith, who we’ll go ahead and mock to San Francisco early in Round 3 of the draft.