5 surprising roster cuts 49ers could make after 2021 NFL Draft
By Peter Panacy
No. 3: 49ers Offensive Lineman Justin Skule
A brief trip back to 2019 would help us recall how the 49ers were forced to start reserve offensive linemen, Daniel Brunskill and Justin Skule, in the wake of key injuries to their starting tackles, Joe Staley and Mike McGlinchey.
Brunskill ended up proving to be the more valuable of the two, although it’s understandable the Niners were being patient with Skule, a then-rookie.
Yet Skule kept finding himself in and out of the lineup last year despite another slew of serious injuries, and the improvement one would expect for a second-year pro simply didn’t show up.
Tack on San Francisco’s fifth-round addition of Jaylon Moore, and now it appears almost certain Skule won’t make the 53-man cut between now and Week 1. The same should be said of fellow swing tackle Shon Coleman, too, who opted out last year after missing all of 2019 with a serious ankle injury suffered that preseason.
Meanwhile, even though Brunskill could be moved off a starting bid because of Aaron Banks, the former’s versatility and effectiveness as a quality backup will keep him on the roster. As an exclusive-rights free agent re-signed during the offseason, Brunskill is cheap, too.
Skule, however, is probably going to run out of chances this offseason.