49ers may move Garrett Bradbury up on draft board after incredible NFL Scouting Combine
By Peter Panacy
The San Francisco 49ers may choose to make some offensive line upgrades during this year’s NFL Draft, and offensive guard Garrett Bradbury’s scouting combine efforts could justify it.
Don’t be overly shocked if the San Francisco 49ers elect to use a day-two or day-three pick on an offensive lineman.
After all, a year ago, the Niners pegged former Notre Dame tackle Mike McGlinchey with their first overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft at a time where offensive line wasn’t seen as much of a need.
According to general manager John Lynch, speaking to the team’s website, McGlinchey’s performance during that year’s NFL Scouting Combine solidified the 49ers’ choice to grab him with the No. 9 overall pick. And while San Francisco easily has more pressing needs elsewhere, it’s not completely out of the question Lynch uses a mid rounder to address the O-line again.
Enter NC State’s Garrett Bradbury.
Bradbury, who won the 2018 Rimington Trophy as college football’s best center a year ago, put on quite the show at the 2019 NFL Combine, showcasing excellent speed and agility during his workouts. His scheme fit, paired with the Niners’ needs to upgrade some interior positions, could put him into the discussion for a San Francisco selection, possibly as early as late in Round 1.
He wouldn’t be tabbed as a center, though. Not in a starting role, at least. That spot is reserved for veteran center Weston Richburg, to whom NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein directly compared Bradbury leading up to the combine itself.
It’s important to note Richburg was one of head coach Kyle Shanahan’s high-profile free-agent grabs in 2018. If that’s any indicator of what the 49ers may think of Bradbury, it’s not hard to see the would-be connection.
Let’s break it all down.