5 prospects SF 49ers must consider with first pick in 2021 NFL Draft

SF 49ers NFL Draft Target No. 4: IOL Trey Hill, Georgia

The SF 49ers are in desperate need of offensive line help in the interior, as the retooled version of the 2019 line just hasn’t been able to hold up for the most part in 2020.

A particular concern is at the center position, where Weston Richburg is perennially injured and backup Ben Garland hasn’t been able to get on the field either. An upgrade is needed, and the Niners have the luxury of being able to take someone who has first-round talent and can fill an immediate need from Week 1.

Interior lineman Trey Hill is part of the vaunted Georgia line that produced first-round tackle Andrew Thomas and a once potentially early round pick on guard Solomon Kindley. Hill is the continuation of the tradition that Georgia is having of producing offensive linemen for the NFL.

Hill fills space with his 6-foot-4, 330-pound frame but also has the agility to move well for such a big blocker. His versatility in playing any interior position is also a big plus for a SF 49ers scheme that is predicated on blockers being able to fill various positions if need be.

Interior linemen aren’t very fancied, but teams are more and more tuning into the importance of how disruptive interior pressure can be to quarterbacks. It can break plays up a lot easier and quicker than pressure from the edge even if it doesn’t always lead to sacks.

So teams are more than ever acknowledging the importance of interior line play, and the 49ers are among those teams with their dedication to running the football.

Hill isn’t a sexy pick to predict, but he is certainly a solid one.