3 veteran free agents San Francisco 49ers could still target
By Peter Panacy
No. 2: Offensive Lineman Ryan Groy
The 49ers revamped their offensive line a lot during the offseason, adding Trent Williams and former New York Jets guard Tom Compton while saying goodbye to stalwart tackle Joe Staley to retirement after parting ways with former starting right guard Mike Person.
Williams will assume Staley’s spot on the left side, while Compton and Daniel Brunskill appear poised to start at right guard.
The depth behind this whole unit, particularly along the interior, remains a bit of a question mark, though. Ben Garland was re-signed to back up veteran center Weston Richburg, which is fine. But Richburg’s 2019 knee injury could potentially keep him out until Week 1. And there aren’t a lot of proven NFL-level options on the interior behind Garland, Compton, Brunskill and starting left guard Laken Tomlinson.
A player like former Buffalo Bills and Los Angeles Chargers interior lineman Ryan Groy won’t win any splash-move awards or anything like that. But he’s serviceable, earning a solid 65.9 overall grade from Pro Football Focus in limited action a year ago as a reserve. The 29 year old has 17 starts under his belt, too, making him a Garland-like backup capable of at least providing some depth and competition against any elongated setbacks for Richburg.