San Francisco 49ers: 5 late-round gems to target in the 2019 NFL Draft
By Peter Panacy
One might not think the 49ers offensive line is a big issue heading into 2019, but it secretly is. Especially along the interior, where center Weston Richburg and left guard Laken Tomlinson are both coming back from knee injuries suffered last season.
And while re-signing versatile lineman Mike Person this offseason was smart, there’s still a concern about proven depth and prevention against injury attrition.
San Francisco probably won’t use one of its first three picks in the NFL Draft on an offensive lineman. Heck, the team might wait until Round 6 to grab someone.
If that’s the case, and NC State offensive guard Terronne Prescod falls into the sixth round, John Lynch shouldn’t hesitate.
Prescod moves exceptionally well for a player at 6-foot-5 and 331 pounds. His forte, of course, is run blocking and Prescod can do it in space, too, which makes him an ideal candidate for Kyle Shanahan’s zone-style scheme.
Like many rookie lineman, Prescod needs some help in his pass protection. But this isn’t nearly as bad when he’s not on an island. And as a reserve, developmental option, he’d be a fine pickup by the 49ers in the later rounds.