Niner Noise
FanSided

Regrading the 49ers’ 2018 NFL Draft class after one year

By Peter Panacy

ARLINGTON, TX - APRIL 26: A video board displays an image of Mike McGlinchey of Notre Dame after he was picked #9 overall by the San Francisco 49ers during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium on April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - APRIL 26: A video board displays an image of Mike McGlinchey of Notre Dame after he was picked #9 overall by the San Francisco 49ers during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium on April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – AUGUST 25: Mike McGlinchey #69 of the San Francisco 49ers looks on in the second quarter of a preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on August 25, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – AUGUST 25: Mike McGlinchey #69 of the San Francisco 49ers looks on in the second quarter of a preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on August 25, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Notre Dame. MIKE MCGLINCHEY. B+. . Offensive Tackle

It was a bit of a shock when the 49ers selected offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey at No. 9 overall in 2018. After all, the Niners already had a starting right tackle, Trent Brown, who seemed to be locked in as the team’s starter.

San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers /

San Francisco 49ers

But San Francisco traded off Brown to the New England Patriots the following day, essentially guaranteeing McGlinchey a starting spot his rookie season.

McGlinchey didn’t disappoint, either.

Pro Football Focus gave McGlinchey a respectable 73.2 overall grade on the season. But it’s McGlinchey’s run-blocking efforts, which should garner the most attention. PFF gave the Notre Dame product a 78.2 grade here, which ranked third best among all eligible tackles. Not just rookies.

While the McGlinchey pick seemed a bit puzzling at the time, the 49ers appear to have found their bookend for the next 10 years. The only thing keeping McGlinchey from being a true A-grade, in this case, is the fact he was tagged by PFF with allowing a team-high five sacks in 2018.

There were also other players available, who might have been able to provide a bigger impact at No. 9 overall, such as now-Los Angeles Chargers All-Pro safety Derwin James.

Still, McGlinchey looks like he was the right pick.