49ers: 5 biggest unlikely heroes from 2019 regular season
By Chris Wilson
No. 3: Offensive Lineman Daniel Brunskill
The 49ers heavily scouted the now-defunct Alliance of American Football, and it’s a good thing they did. Why? Because it netted the team offensive lineman Daniel Brunskill.
Brunskill was an afterthought during training camp, likely no more than an extra camp body and a long shot to make the 53-man roster. Yet he earned his spot, which ended up paying dividends when the Niners lost both starting tackles, Joe Staley and Mike McGlinchey, to elongated injuries during the regular season.
San Francisco had Brunskill fill in on the right side in place of McGlinchey, then moving over to the left to alleviate the so-so play of rookie swing tackle Justin Skule.
Brunskill eventually finished the regular season starting seven games, allowing just two sacks and seven quarterback hurries during the timeframe, according to Pro Football Focus, posting a solid 73.0 overall grade in the process.
While it’s premature to think Brunskill could be a long-term replacement for Staley in coming years, at least the 49ers have found a hidden gem of a reserve option.