Niner Noise
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5 players the 49ers should target in Round 3 of the 2019 NFL Draft

By Peter Panacy

ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 01: Riley Ridley #8 of the Georgia Bulldogs celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown in the third quarter during the 2018 SEC Championship Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 1, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 01: Riley Ridley #8 of the Georgia Bulldogs celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown in the third quarter during the 2018 SEC Championship Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 1, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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SALT LAKE CITY, UT – OCTOBER 29: Kaleb McGary #58 of the Washington Huskies blocks against the Utah Utes at an NCAA football game at Rice-Eccles Stadium on October 29, 2016 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by George Frey/Getty Images) Local Caption ***Kaleb McGary
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – OCTOBER 29: Kaleb McGary #58 of the Washington Huskies blocks against the Utah Utes at an NCAA football game at Rice-Eccles Stadium on October 29, 2016 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by George Frey/Getty Images) Local Caption ***Kaleb McGary /

It hasn’t been talked about as much as the 49ers’ other needs in the NFL Draft, but addressing the offensive line is something John Lynch and Co. should seriously consider in the middle rounds.

While the Niners used their top pick in the draft a year ago on now-right tackle Mike McGlinchey, left tackle Joe Staley will eventually need to be replaced at some point in coming years. McGlinchey could slide over, yes, but that opens up a void on the right again.

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Likewise, there are question marks within the interior, too.

Round 3 could be an excellent time to find a draft-and-develop lineman, and Washington’s Kaleb McGary is a player worth watching.

McGary, 6-foot-7 and 317 pounds, has the ideal size for playing tackle. But some questionable footwork might relegate him inside to guard for the first couple of seasons at the NFL level.

His lateral movement isn’t quite where one would want it to be, especially considering head coach Kyle Shanahan’s outside-zone scheme. But he’s excellent in run blocking, which seems to be Shanahan’s preference in selecting his offensive linemen.

McGary has a small heart issue, which likely affects his draft stock to a point. Yet he might be worth considering as a long-term piece to supply depth now, eventually securing a starting role in a year or two’s time.