Niner Noise
FanSided

3 roster questions the 49ers will have to answer this offseason

By Logan Stanley

SANTA CLARA, CA - JANUARY 01: Joshua Garnett #65 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after Shaun Draughn #24 of the San Francisco 49ers ran in for a touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks at Levi's Stadium on January 1, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - JANUARY 01: Joshua Garnett #65 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after Shaun Draughn #24 of the San Francisco 49ers ran in for a touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks at Levi's Stadium on January 1, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/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. 3: Who are the starting guards?

Is it Laken Tomlinson at right guard and Joshua Garnett at left guard? Or Jonathan Cooper inserted for Tomlinson? Or vice versa with Garnett?

San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers /

San Francisco 49ers

Right now, the presumptive starters are Tomlinson on the left side and Cooper on the right side.

Quick facts about Tomlinson:

  • Acquired last offseason in a trade
  • Ended up starting 15 of 16 games in 2017 for the 49ers
  • Former first-round pick (No. 28 overall)

Cooper:

  • Signed to a one-year deal this offseason
  • Started 13 of 16 games last season for the Dallas Cowboys
  • Former top-10 pick (No. 7 overall)

Garnett missed all of 2017 with a knee injury, which he sustained in training camp. Like Tomlinson and Cooper, Garnett too is a former first-round pick.

In two seasons at the professional level, Garnett has failed to make a lasting impression. Of course one of those seasons was spent on the sidelines. But in his rookie season, Garnett graded out at 42.4 from Pro Football Focus, ranking him 70 out of 72 qualifying guards.

It looks like it will be on Garnett to beat out either Tomlinson and Cooper, and Garnett has put in the work to do so: