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San Francisco 49ers: Way-too-early 53-man roster projections for 2019

By Robert Morrison

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 09: Members of the San Francisco 49ers line up in the tunnel to take the field before the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on September 9, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 09: Members of the San Francisco 49ers line up in the tunnel to take the field before the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on September 9, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) /
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SANTA CLARA, CA – DECEMBER 09: Joe Staley #74 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after making a reception during the game against the Denver Broncos during at Levi’s Stadium on December 9, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA – DECEMBER 09: Joe Staley #74 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after making a reception during the game against the Denver Broncos during at Levi’s Stadium on December 9, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /

Offensive Line (8): T Joe Staley, G Mike Person, G Laken Tomlinson, C Weston Richburg, T Mike McGlinchey, T Justin Skule, C/G Erik Magnuson, G Ross Reynolds

The number is probably right. The question is who fills the open spots after the starters, who seem pretty locked into place.

San Francisco used its second of three sixth-round draft picks to take tackle Justin Skule out of Vanderbilt, but the knock on him seems to be related to pass protection, so he’d be a work in progress.

For now, I’ll assume the team will want to get value out of its draft pick by keeping him around, but they could just as easily keep Shon Coleman around and try to sneak Skule through waivers and onto the practice squad. The preseason will have a lot to say about the former Commodore’s future in 2019.

The same could be said for undrafted free-agent guard Ross Reynolds out of Iowa, who could be a nice compliment to the versatile Erik Magnuson, as far as the ability to play either guard or center. He’ll battle with former first-round pick Joshua Garnett, who never has been able to get a foothold in the NFL and doesn’t seem the type of guard Kyle Shanahan needs in his system.

For now, I’d say the versatility of Magnuson and Ross, combined with the upside of Skule, will make up a young-but-potentially good group of backup offensive lineman.

Other names to watch in the competition will be former Atlanta Falcons Ben Garland and Daniel Brunskill.