SF 49ers: Ranking top 5 needs in 2021 NFL Draft
By Peter Panacy
![Commissioner Roger Goodell with San Francisco 49ers #10 draft pick Michael Crabtree (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images) Commissioner Roger Goodell with San Francisco 49ers #10 draft pick Michael Crabtree (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/3cafe1ee9a261d38a1aa988ea490397370bb7b1793d0ef3dd9d97c6bc1758eb7.jpg)
SF 49ers NFL Draft Need No. 2: Offensive Line
If there’s been one representative for the SF 49ers’ offensive struggles in 2020, it’s been the offensive line.
Football Outsiders currently ranks the Niners O-line 28th in run support this season, and pass protection hasn’t exactly been a strength either with this group giving up 27 sacks over 12 games. Center Weston Richburg’s 2019 knee injury carried over into this year, and that’s created a domino effect with Ben Garland, Hroniss Grasu and Daniel Brunskill all getting snaps in his absence. Right guard has been a turnstile, while right tackle Mike McGlinchey’s pass-protection woes haven’t gotten any better than they were last year.
Making things worse, left tackle Trent Williams is poised to cash in on a lucrative free-agent contract next season. Perhaps San Francisco ponies up a deal for him, knowing he’s essentially the only major positive to stem from this group this season.
But even if that deal happens, the SF 49ers need to make some considerable investments to shore up the other weaknesses.
Thankfully, the 2021 NFL Draft is looking to be awfully deep for O-linemen, meaning the Niners don’t have to worry too much about missing out on starting-caliber talent.