Predicting 49ers offensive line depth chart after adding Alex Mack

Predicting 49ers’ O-line starting lineup, depth chart

Prior to the COVID-affected 2020 season, teams typically carried eight offensive linemen on a 53-man roster, seven of them active, along with another one or two players on the practice squad.

It’s unclear how the NFL will formulate practice squads in 2021, particularly whether or not formerly ineligible players will be allowed placement on this unit once again. If so, that’ll change things and likely opens up at least a few more players to be retained.

San Francisco 49ers

Based on the durability of the projected starters, however, let’s go ahead and assume San Francisco keeps only eight players on the 53-man roster with the following depth-chart alignment:

• Left Tackle: Trent Williams, rookie
• Left Guard: Laken Tomlinson, Colton McKivitz
• Center: Alex Mack, Jake Brendel
• Right Guard: Daniel Brunskill
• Right Tackle: Mike McGlinchey

* backups are italicized

One would assume the 49ers take advantage of the deep NFL Draft for this unit, perhaps grabbing a promising developmental tackle who could be stashed as a backup, either to replace McGlinchey as soon as 2022 or potentially 2023, depending on the 2018 first-round pick’s fifth-year option being picked up.

It also wouldn’t be shocking to see the Niners grab someone even more developmental, perhaps in Rounds 6 or 7, with the hope of being placed on the practice squad.

But for the 53-man roster, both McKivitz and Brendel get the nod. While McKivitz struggled in 2020, one has to figure a more-normal offseason will help his maturation. Brendel, meanwhile, is the only other pure center on the roster behind Mack.

Of course, these predictions will likely be thrown for a total loop once San Francisco’s 2021 NFL Draft picks are known.