49ers final 7-round mock NFL Draft ahead of 2021 free agency

Round 2, Pick No. 43 Overall: 49ers select center Josh Myers, Ohio State

One of the ways San Francisco can clear cap space this offseason is by cutting veteran center Weston Richburg, who missed all of 2020 with a serious knee injury suffered late in 2019.

Richburg, who doesn’t have an injury guarantee worked into his contract, is due nearly $11.5 million this year, but the 49ers could save nearly $8 million of that if he was to be cut after June 1.

That amount alone could be almost enough to sign all of the Niners’ 2021 rookie class, and that won’t necessarily need to be done until just before the start of training camp in July.

San Francisco doesn’t have too many likable reserve options behind Richburg. No. 2 center Ben Garland is a free agent, and the Atlanta Falcons’ Alex Mack could always sign elsewhere even though he’d be a favored free-agent target in head coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense.

A younger, cheaper option would be Ohio State’s Josh Myers, however.

Myers saw some regression his final year at the college level, and some might think it a bit of a reach at No. 43 overall. That said, his movement skills are good, and he has the football IQ to properly call out protection at the center of the line.

Getting someone to anchor this vital spot should help the 49ers avoid the pitfalls they endured at the position a year ago.