No. 9: SF 49ers Offensive Line
Mike McGlinchey, Trent Williams, Laken Tomlinson, Daniel Brunskill, Tom Compton, Ben Garland, Colton McKivitz and Justin Skule
The Niners offensive line might be the lowest-ranked out of all the non-specialist groups, but that could arguably be made a point considering the depth and prowess stemming from the other units.
After all, few teams could absorb the loss of a franchise favorite, left tackle Joe Staley, by replacing him with another perennial Pro Bowler, Trent Williams.
Williams, right tackle Mike McGlinchey and left guard Laken Tomlinson are the shoo-in starters who’ll be responsible for helping San Francisco’s O-line improve from the No. 14 spot Pro Football Focus gave it at the conclusion of 2019. Yet injuries have already created problems along the interior, namely with starting center Weston Richburg (knee) beginning the year on the physically unable-to-perform list.
Richburg will be sidelined for at least six weeks, which isn’t good. And neither is his backup, Ben Garland, dealing with an ankle injury.
Garland made the opening 53-man roster, which is a good sign he’ll be available early in 2020. But perhaps not as soon as Week 1, which means some additional interior shuffling could spell some premature problems for the O-line as it looks to navigate the opening weeks of the season.