Predicting 49ers’ 2019 offensive starters with NFL Draft picks
By Peter Panacy
Offensive Line
San Francisco 49ers
Left Tackle: Joe Staley
Left Guard: Laken Tomlinson
Center: Weston Richburg
Right Guard: Mike Person
Right Tackle: Mike McGlinchey
For the most part, it looks as if the 49ers will carry over the same crop of starters along the offensive line heading into 2019.
But that doesn’t mean John Lynch and Co. should avoid making some short- and long-term upgrades in this year’s NFL Draft, if possible.
Veteran left tackle Joe Staley could stick around a couple of more years, and the Niners would ideally like to slide second-year pro Mike McGlinchey over to that side of the line when the time comes. For now, however, the tackle spots are set in stone, barring injury.
Same goes with center Weston Richburg, although a knee injury hampered his 2018 campaign and could cut into his availability for training camp.
Things get a bit more interesting at guard, however. Sure, San Francisco re-signed versatile offensive lineman Mike Person this offseason, and he had a career year in a starter’s role in 2018, which pushed out seldom-used former first-round draftee, Joshua Garnett, from taking hold of the job.
That said, interior upgrades and depth should be addressed in this draft, and it wouldn’t be shocking to see the Niners use a day-two or day-three pick on a draft-and-develop interior O-line prospect.
He won’t start right away, though.