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San Francisco 49ers: Speculating the biggest position battles in 2018 training camp

By Peter Panacy

SANTA CLARA, CA - JULY 30: Ronald Johnson #88 of the San Francisco 49ers catches a pass over Tramaine Brock #26 during practice at the San Francisco 49ers training facility on July 30, 2011 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - JULY 30: Ronald Johnson #88 of the San Francisco 49ers catches a pass over Tramaine Brock #26 during practice at the San Francisco 49ers training facility on July 30, 2011 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 31: Carlos Hyde #28 of the San Francisco 49ers follows his blocker Laken Tomlinson #75 of the San Francisco 49ers as he rushes for a gain against Los Angeles Rams during the second quarter at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 31, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 31: Carlos Hyde #28 of the San Francisco 49ers follows his blocker Laken Tomlinson #75 of the San Francisco 49ers as he rushes for a gain against Los Angeles Rams during the second quarter at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 31, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /

No. 1: Offensive Guard

So much for the theory offensive linemen Weston Richburg and Daniel Kilgore would be competing for the starting center job, while the loser bumps out to guard.

Kilgore is off to the Miami Dolphins now, and Richburg is now the bona fide starter after being picked up in free agency.

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That wasn’t the only free-agent move the Niners made along their offensive line, though. General manager John Lynch brought aboard a former first-round draftee, Jonathan Cooper, to immediately compete for one of two starting guard spots alongside fellow former first rounders, Joshua Garnett and Laken Tomlinson.

Garnett, who missed all of 2017 with a knee injury, needs to reshape his body to adjust to the speedier, more agile outside-zone scheme Kyle Shanahan operates. Meanwhile, Tomlinson’s early struggles last year were generally eclipsed late in the season, as he finished with a respectable 70.7 overall Pro Football Focus grade.

At least there’s depth. But with a decent crop of interior pass-rushers in the NFC West (think the Los Angeles Rams’ Aaron Donald), interior O-line protection is a must.

The NFL Draft is pretty deep at guard, and it wouldn’t be a shock to see the 49ers use an early pick to grab a would-be plug-and-play starter.

Teams typically keep two backup interior linemen on a 53-man roster, meaning if such a move is made, one of the three veterans is likely to go after training camp.

Next: 5 49ers with a lot on the line in 2018

Yeah, this will be an important battle to watch.