San Francisco 49ers: Complete rookie grades from 2018 NFL Draft class
Round 1, Pick 9: Offensive Tackle Mike McGlinchey
The 49ers really dodged a bullet and received a gift when they won the coin toss with the Oakland Raiders to pick ninth in the 2018 NFL Draft. The Raiders got Kolton Miller, a raw tackle who struggled mightily in his first year in the NFL. The 49ers got Mike McGlinchey.
Now, many people including myself, were very upset at the McGlinchey pick. Rarely is a first-round selection of an offensive lineman well received. But quickly into the season, McGlinchey managed to prove all of his critics very wrong.
Entering the last week of the season, Pro Football Focus ranked McGlinchey first among rookie offensive linemen, even ahead of Pro Bowler and former Notre Dame teammate, now Indianapolis Colts offensive guard Quenton Nelson:
Mike McGlinchey leads all rookie offensive linemen in PFF grade through the first 16 weeks of the season. pic.twitter.com/VHQabKQEjU
— PFF (@PFF) December 27, 2018
McGlinchey has struggled a little with pass protection, not ranking very high there. That was apparent against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 17. However, he has progressed very well throughout the season, and his run-blocking has been on point.
Just watch this play:
https://twitter.com/nfl/status/1058180461204144129?lang=en
That’s McGlinchey (No. 69) who manages to run with running back Raheem Mostert all the way to the end zone.
All in all, for a rookie offensive tackle’s first year, chalk this as a major success. He won’t get an A-grade, mostly because the pass-protection problems are there, but no one should be doubting this pick.