SF 49ers: 5 players who could be surprise cuts this offseason
By Peter Panacy
No. 4: SF 49ers Offensive Guard Laken Tomlinson
San Francisco’s offensive line has been one of the team’s primary problems this season, although one could argue left guard Laken Tomlinson isn’t necessarily the biggest culprit.
So, how could he end up on the shocking-cut list?
A few things work against Tomlinson’s long-term prospects here. For starters, Tomlinson has zero in guaranteed money in 2021, and things always get weird for players when there’s nothing left in guarantees on a contract. The same thing happened for a 2019 O-line starter, Mike Person, who was let go when this happened last offseason.
On top of that, the 2021 NFL Draft is awfully deep along the O-line, meaning a team like the SF 49ers could invest multiple picks to bolster this unit, getting talented players on cheap rookie contracts.
Parting ways with Tomlinson would mean parting ways with a reliable veteran who has missed just one start since joining the team in 2017.
But with a potential cap savings up to $5 million, it’s certainly a possibility the Niners and Tomlinson part ways in 2021.