Niner Noise
FanSided

San Francisco 49ers: 5 biggest stars of 2018 OTAs so far

By Bobby Horne

SANTA CLARA, CA - NOVEMBER 29: A view of San Francisco 49ers helmets on the bench during their NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi's Stadium on November 29, 2015 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - NOVEMBER 29: A view of San Francisco 49ers helmets on the bench during their NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi's Stadium on November 29, 2015 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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GLENDALE, AZ – NOVEMBER 13: Offensive guard Joshua Garnett #65 (center) of the San Francisco 49ers lines up during the second half of the NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium on November 13, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals beat the 49ers 23-20. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ – NOVEMBER 13: Offensive guard Joshua Garnett #65 (center) of the San Francisco 49ers lines up during the second half of the NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium on November 13, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals beat the 49ers 23-20. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) /

Joshua Garnett

In 2016 the 49ers traded back into the first round in the NFL Draft to select Stanford guard Joshua Garnett. The 49ers haven’t seen a return on their investment, due to some low quality play as a rookie and an injury that left him sidelined for all of 2017.

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Fast forward to 2018, and things are starting to look good for the third-year guard. He has taken his time away from football during the injury seriously and has come into OTAs down 25 pounds. A healthy and agile Garnett is just the type of player Kyle Shanahan looks for in his lineman.

After the first two days of OTAs, coach Shanahan had a lot of good things to say.

"I see a guy who’s really going for it, I’ve been very proud of how he’s handled his year off. Some guys when they go through that, they can get down, especially the surprise it was for him when it happened. He really took advantage of his year off. I think he’s changed his body. I think he’s lost weight and added some muscle. I think by doing that, you’re faster, you’re more athletic and I don’t believe he’s lost his power either because it’s been the right type of weight. He’s had a good two days. It’s real early, but he’s put himself in a position to be the best he can."

2018 free agency acquisition Jonathan Cooper is rehabbing a knee injury, which leaves the right guard spot wide open for anyone to take. Garnett has put in the work and dedication to finally show the 49ers why they drafted him.

He is in position to plant himself as the starting right guard if he keeps it up.