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San Francisco 49ers: Predicting a Week 1 53-man roster, depth chart for 2018

By Peter Panacy

SANTA CLARA, CA - DECEMBER 24: The San Francisco 49ers huddle against the Jacksonville Jaguars during their NFL game at Levi's Stadium on December 24, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Robert Reiners/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - DECEMBER 24: The San Francisco 49ers huddle against the Jacksonville Jaguars during their NFL game at Levi's Stadium on December 24, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Robert Reiners/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) /

Offensive Line (8)

Center: Weston Richburg, Mike Person

Guard: Laken Tomlinson, Jonathan Cooper

Tackle: Joe Staley, Mike McGlinchey, Garry Gilliam, Erik Magnuson

Offensive line is going to be an interesting camp battle to watch this season. While the starting center (Weston Richburg) and tackle positions (Joe Staley and Mike McGlinchey) are all but set, backup duties and guard play remain open.

Veteran tackle Garry Gilliam is a likely swing tackle, while second-year pro Erik Magnuson had a solid rookie season and was cross-trained at a variety of positions in 2017.

Remember, flexibility is key for backup linemen.

The same goes with veteran lineman Mike Person, whom the Niners signed as a free agent this offseason with attention given to his previous work with Kyle Shanahan back in 2015.

Things get more interesting at guard, though. Earlier this offseason, San Francisco inked Laken Tomlinson to a three-year extension, all but guaranteeing he’ll start at one of the two open spots, likely on the left side.

That leaves the right guard spot open for competition, namely between third-year pro Joshua Garnett and free-agent pickup Jonathan Cooper.

Garnett, who missed 2017 with a knee injury, has been asked to slim his body down to fit better within Shanahan’s outside-zone scheme. Cooper, meanwhile, is still recovering from offseason MCL injury. Assuming he returns healthy, it wouldn’t be a shock to see Garnett moved before Week 1 to a team in need of a power-based guard.

The Denver Broncos could be interested.