San Francisco 49ers: Early 53-man roster predictions for 2018
By Peter Panacy
Offensive Line (8)
Left Tackle: Joe Staley, Erik Magnuson
Left Guard: Joshua Garnett, Jonathan Cooper
Center: Weston Richburg
Right Guard: Laken Tomlinson
Right Tackle: Mike McGlinchey, Darrell Williams Jr.
Just think, the 49ers have almost completely overhauled their offensive line from a season ago. The only Week 1 starter remaining now is veteran left tackle Joe Staley, and he’s not going anywhere in 2018.
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This, after the Niners traded off center Daniel Kilgore and right tackle Trent Brown, later adding veteran center Weston Richburg in free agency and taking Notre Dame offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey at No. 9 overall in the NFL Draft.
San Francisco’s latest transaction, releasing backup lineman Zane Beadles, removes a utility piece but opens up a spot for younger, cheaper players.
Two second-year linemen, Erik Magnuson and Darrell Williams Jr., figure to be the prime beneficiaries here. Magnuson, like Beadles, can possibly play all five spots along the O-line, whereas Williams could be a solid swing tackle and better long-term option over Garry Gilliam, whose pass-blocking issues are a concern.
Perhaps the biggest camp competition to watch here, however, is how the guard position plays out.
San Francisco has three former first-round draft picks — Joshua Garnett, Laken Tomlinson and Jonathan Cooper — to compete for two starting jobs. Garnett, who missed last year with a knee injury, likely winds up earning the left spot, while Tomlinson bumps over to the right.
Cooper winds up being a primary interior backup.