Niner Noise
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San Francisco 49ers: Rethinking 2018 NFL Draft big board after free agency

By Florito Maniego

Head coach Kyle Shanahan of the San Francisco 49ers with general manager John Lynch (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
Head coach Kyle Shanahan of the San Francisco 49ers with general manager John Lynch (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /
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HOUSTON, TX – DECEMBER 10: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers throws a pass as Zane Beadles #68 blocks Jadeveon Clowney #90 of the Houston Texans in the third quarter at NRG Stadium on December 10, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX – DECEMBER 10: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers throws a pass as Zane Beadles #68 blocks Jadeveon Clowney #90 of the Houston Texans in the third quarter at NRG Stadium on December 10, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /

No. 1: Offensive Guard

Even after the acquisition of center Weston Richburg, San Francisco still needs to continue building around Garoppolo. More specifically, the team needs to shift gears focusing on improving the guard position.

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Former starting center Daniel Kilgore is no longer with the team after being traded to the Dolphins. And the guards the 49ers currently have are Laken Tomlinson, Zane Beadles and Joshua Garnett.

While Tomlinson played well toward the end of the 2017 regular season, he is not a long-term solution. Similarly, Beadles has not played consistently throughout his time in San Francisco.

Garnett could be a potential starter in 2018, but his future is uncertain considering his season-ending injury last year.

Therefore, the 49ers should highly prioritize upgrading the interior offensive line in the draft.

Notre Dame’s Quenton Nelson could be the Niners’ ninth overall pick come draft day. Considered to be the best guard of this year’s draft class, Nelson might end up in San Francisco if he falls to the ninth pick.

The 49ers might even trade up or down to draft players such as UTEP’s Will Hernandez and Auburn’s Braden Smith late in the first round or early in the second round.

Next: Refuting complaints about the 49ers’ 2018 NFL free agency class

San Francisco’s need of an offensive guard should definitely be a top priority for Lynch and Shanahan in the draft. Because they could not address this position in free agency, the 49ers have a lot of work to do to improve Garoppolo’s pass protectors in the middle.