Niner Noise
FanSided

Predicting which players 49ers re-sign in 2020 NFL free agency

By Peter Panacy

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 24: Ronald Blair #98 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates with teammates after sacking Jared Goff #16 of the Los Angeles Rams (not pictured) during the fourth quarter of their game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 24, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 24: Ronald Blair #98 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates with teammates after sacking Jared Goff #16 of the Los Angeles Rams (not pictured) during the fourth quarter of their game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 24, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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CHICAGO, IL – AUGUST 31: John Jenkins #73 of the Chicago Bears rushes against Shon Coleman #72 of the Cleveland Browns during a preseason game at Soldier Field on August 31, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL – AUGUST 31: John Jenkins #73 of the Chicago Bears rushes against Shon Coleman #72 of the Cleveland Browns during a preseason game at Soldier Field on August 31, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

Offensive Tackle Shon Coleman

The 49ers drafted former Vanderbilt offensive tackle Justin Skule this spring to compete with backup tackle Shon Coleman, whom the Niners acquired via a 2018 trade with the Cleveland Browns.

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Coleman was relegated to the weekly inactive list for the entirety of last season. But with former Niners swing tackle Garry Gilliam no longer in the picture, Coleman is poised to secure that key backup spot in 2019.

If he beats out Skule, of course.

What gives Coleman the edge here is the fact he started 16 games for the Browns back in 2017. And while his performance that year wasn’t overly great, the experience level carries weight. Especially over a more-developmental prospect like Skule.

Coleman could wind up solidifying himself as San Francisco’s swing tackle in 2019, essentially helping any cause for the 49ers to bring him back in 2020 on what would likely be a team-friendly deal.

By doing so, the Niners would have an experienced starting-caliber player on the cheap, putting off any long-term backup needs for the foreseeable future.