Niner Noise
FanSided

5 players the 49ers should have targeted in the 2019 NFL Draft

By Peter Panacy

EAST LANSING, MI - NOVEMBER 10: Justin Layne #2 of the Michigan State Spartans breaks up a pass next to Terry McLaurin #83 of the Ohio State Buckeyes during the first half at Spartan Stadium on November 10, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - NOVEMBER 10: Justin Layne #2 of the Michigan State Spartans breaks up a pass next to Terry McLaurin #83 of the Ohio State Buckeyes during the first half at Spartan Stadium on November 10, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – FEBRUARY 28: Offensive lineman Ross Pierschbacher of Alabama speaks to the media during day one of interviews at the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 28, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – FEBRUARY 28: Offensive lineman Ross Pierschbacher of Alabama speaks to the media during day one of interviews at the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 28, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

The 49ers didn’t do too much to address their offensive line in the NFL Draft, aside from grabbing Vanderbilt’s Justin Skule in Round 6. And along the interior, the only move was made after the draft, when the Niners picked up former Iowa offensive guard Ross Reynolds, who might wind up being a good undrafted free-agent signing.

All that said, there are still injury concerns with interior linemen Laken Tomlinson and Weston Richburg, who both suffered knee injuries in 2018. With the versatile Erik Magnuson falling out of favor late last year, some interior depth would have been nice.

One of the players San Francisco should have considered a bit higher a priority was Alabama guard Ross Pierschbacher, who was selected in Round 5, No. 153 overall, by the Washington Redskins.

This was a few picks after the Niners took Dre Greenlaw, and that’s likely going to be a solid pickup. Yet if there was some way for the 49ers to figure out how to lure in Greenlaw, whose run- and zone-blocking skills would have been seamless under Kyle Shanahan, it would have been a good move.

Depth along the O-line wouldn’t have been anywhere near the concern it still is now.