SF 49ers roster: 4 positions Niners must address in 2021
By Peter Panacy
No. 2: Starting options and depth along the SF 49ers offensive line
It was a bit of a tossup between San Francisco’s defensive and offensive lines here. But considering the SF 49ers boasted the league’s fifth-best defense in 2020 despite having all kinds of attrition along the D-line, the O-line gets the nod for needing more help.
Especially after watching a banged-up Kansas City Chiefs O-line struggle immensely in Super Bowl LV.
The likely free-agent loss of Trent Williams this offseason is going to open up a massive void at left tackle, and the Niners should be seeking upgrades at right guard and center, particularly the latter in the wake of Weston Richburg missing the last year-plus because of injury. Richburg could end up being a cap casualty, too, meaning San Francisco could see at least two-fifths of its O-line undergo a change from intended starters.
And there aren’t exactly a lot of bona fide options to step up into starting roles on the SF 49ers roster.
Fortunately, the 2021 NFL Draft is awfully deep with quality offensive linemen. This should provide plenty of options to find a replacement for Williams, a healthy replacement for Richburg and a potential upgrade at right guard.
Even though Pro Football Focus ranked this particular unit No. 9 overall at the end of 2020, it’s pretty evident the Niners need more than just a little O-line help this offseason.