49ers training camp: 5 players off to a hot start in 2020
By Peter Panacy
No. 3: 49ers Offensive Guard Laken Tomlinson
Trent Williams is going to receive plenty of attention during training camp, and the open competition at right guard is still provocative.
Yet one could make the argument left guard Laken Tomlinson has been the Niners’ biggest standout along their offensive line early. And he was instrumental in shutting down San Francisco’s top pick from this year’s NFL Draft, defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw.
The Sacramento Bee’s Chris Biderman explained:
"The left guard stoned Kinlaw on four consecutive reps. So while Kinlaw clearly has all the physical tools needed to become a good player, he remains early in his development. Tomlinson, meanwhile, appears to be in good form following up his strong season in 2019."
Tomlinson has been a staple of reliability for the 49ers ever since they acquired him at the beginning of 2017, and he managed an impressive 64.3 overall grade in 2019, according to Pro Football Focus. And with left tackle Joe Staley retiring during the offseason, Tomlinson now finds himself the longest-tenured O-lineman on the team.
It looks as if that reliability and consistency is on pace to continue into 2020.