49ers news: 4 positions fully up for grabs entering 2021
By Peter Panacy
49ers Position Battle No. 2: Right Guard
Quarterback Trey Lance, selected at No. 3 overall, was clearly the 49ers’ biggest-ticket item during the NFL Draft, although early signs point to him being a backup to the starter, Jimmy Garoppolo, this season.
Yet the Niners’ second NFL Draft pick, Notre Dame offensive guard Aaron Banks, could have the biggest immediate impact out of any of the team’s top selections this year.
San Francisco is envisioning a scenario where Banks immediately starts at right guard, but the position won’t be given to him. Currently, the incumbent starter is the uber-versatile offensive lineman, Daniel Brunskill, who was supposed to occupy this position last year but was ultimately asked to bounce over to center in the wake of so many injuries there.
With veteran center Alex Mack now in the fray, though, Brunskill is free to compete with Banks for the starting right guard spot.
Brunskill has shown his value to the 49ers over the last two years, acting as a quality fill-in backup for multiple spots along the O-line. Ideally, that’s what the Niners would like him to do, but Banks won’t be given the position right away.
Considering the complex nature of San Francisco’s outside-zone system, it could take Banks a while to fully acclimate, meaning this starting job is anything but decided.