San Francisco 49ers: 2020 offseason needs primer
By Peter Panacy
No. 3: Offensive Line
Like Tevin Coleman, it’s possible the 49ers elect to move on from right guard Mike Person in 2020, given the fact he’s currently owed zero in guaranteed money this year.
Person has been reliable, though, and his $3 million cap hit this season is a relative bargain. But things get weird when there’s no dead money in a deal, so it’s going to remain a question for much of the offseason.
Likewise, center Ben Garland is an unrestricted free agent. Garland filled in well for the injured starter, Weston Richburg, down the stretch and into the playoffs. While the former is a downgrade from Richburg, the fact Garland could essentially hold his own as a solid backup should make him a promising re-sign candidate on the cheap.
Yet the biggest need, probably, in the long run, is to find an adequate replacement for left tackle Joe Staley.
Staley, 35 years old, is signed through 2021 and one has to figure that season could be his last. But before San Francisco starts thinking about either drafting a replacement, which is a decent possibility, albeit less of one considering the few numbers of draft picks the team has, it’s possible the 49ers look at one of the better reserve options from 2019, offensive lineman Daniel Brunskill.
Brunskill, who started seven games during the regular season, could be a long-term fit. Or he could have overachieved. One would expect, though, the Niners give him a longer look.
Free agency will likely focus on the on-roster options, perhaps an addition of some depth to compete in training camp. And while the NFL Draft could also yield added bodies, don’t expect them to come until the final rounds.