SF 49ers NFL Draft: 7-round non-quarterback mock for 2021

Round 5, Pick No. 155 Overall: SF 49ers select offensive tackle Ben Petrula, Boston College

Much of what the SF 49ers do along their offensive line will be predicated on their ability to re-sign veteran left tackle Trent Williams next season.

If they’re able to, worrying about tackles for the future won’t be as big a concern, but that doesn’t mean avoiding the position altogether in the 2021 NFL Draft. After all, right tackle Mike McGlinchey isn’t quite solidified as a long-term starter beyond his rookie contract, and it’s appearing as if the Niners aren’t entirely sold on depth linemen Justin Skule or Colton McKivitz either.

So it wouldn’t hurt going after a versatile lineman who can play multiple spots, both on the interior and exterior, and Boston College’s Ben Petrula fits the bill.

Petrula, 6-foot-5 and 325 pounds, has played both tackle spots and at center. He’s solid against power-rushing moves, too, giving him an added bonus in pass protection both Skule and McKivitz have generally lacked. McGlinchey, too, for that matter.

While Petrula would need some refinement and isn’t exactly the most effective move blocker at second levels, he’d at least stand to be an upgrade over San Francisco’s current swing tackles with the long-term upside of being a potential starter.