49ers 7-round mock NFL Draft after first wave of free agency

Round 5, Pick No. 172 (from Saints): 49ers select offensive lineman Robert Hainsey, Notre Dame

The 49ers have all but filled out their starting offensive line for 2021 in the wake of the Trent Williams and Alex Mack deals. But there’s still enough room to help with the depth chart.

Last year’s efforts from reserve linemen Justin Skule and Colton McKivitz were so-so, at best, and the fact the Niners could eventually lose starting left guard Laken Tomlinson and/or right tackle Mike McGlinchey to NFL free agency in 2022 is a suggestion for stockpiling some additional candidates right now.

At 6-foot-4 and 290 pounds, Notre Dame offensive lineman Robert Hainsey is a bit too undersized to deliver reliable starting-caliber efforts at the pro level. The lack of size might also push the collegiate tackle inside to guard, too, where he won’t have to worry as much about his stature while operating on an island.

Still, Hainsey is a solid cerebral lineman excelling in zone-style offenses, and his ability to pull and run in bootlegs and misdirections makes him a good fit for Kyle Shanahan’s outside-zone rushing scheme.

Much like McGlinchey, Hainsey cut his teeth in run support, and that looks to be a primary focus for Shanahan’s O-line targets in the coming years.