49ers depth chart: Predicting 5 surprise adds to 53-man roster in 2020
By Peter Panacy
No. 4: 49ers Offensive Guard Ross Reynolds
Last year, then-rookie lineman Ross Reynolds was showing enough in organized team activities and training camp to suggest he’d be a dark-horse addition for a Niners offensive line already pegged with starters and primary reserves. Reynolds ultimately didn’t make the cut, spending his first year on the practice squad.
But 2020 could be different.
The 49ers have depth along the interior, particularly with Daniel Brunskill and Tom Compton competing for the starting right guard spot. Interior lineman Ben Garland is there, too, along with the 2020 rookie, Colton McKivitz, who is expected to shift from collegiate tackle to guard.
Yet Garland could easily start early this season, thanks to veteran center Weston Richburg’s knee injury from last year and the lingering recovery effects. And if San Francisco wanted to keep at least two interior linemen on the roster, Reynolds could earn a nod with either Compton or McKivitz.
Given the team’s likely need to stay younger and on the cheaper side, it would make some sense the pass-blocking abilities of Reynolds win out over the veteran, Compton, who might be a relatively easy cut if he loses the starting bid to Brunskill.
All to benefit Reynolds in his second year at the pro level, as Niner Noise’s Jeremy Wohlfart pointed out.