4 weakest links on 49ers roster heading into 2021

No. 1: 49ers Right Tackle Mike McGlinchey

There were plenty of reasons why San Francisco’s offensive line experienced problems last year, but few individual players drew as much criticism as right tackle Mike McGlinchey.

A couple of reasons for this. While Pro Football Focus considered McGlinchey an elite-level run blocker, that doesn’t always show up to the untrained eye. In pass protection, when McGlinchey looked bad, he looked awful. And that translated to a lowly 58.3 pass-blocking grade compared to his outstanding 91.3 mark in support of the run game.

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Strong-side pass-rushers are becoming more of a threat in today’s NFL, and McGlinchey has never been known for being a quality pass blocker.

Perhaps one of the reasons for struggling last year was due to a revolving door at right guard because of injuries. The 49ers selecting McGlinchey’s former college teammate, Notre Dame guard Aaron Banks, in Round 2 of this year’s NFL Draft might help solidify the position, thereby giving McGlinchey some consistency to his immediate left.

The Niners are banking on this improvement, picking up McGlinchey’s fifth-year option for 2022.

That said, he remains the biggest pass-blocking question mark on an otherwise-improved San Francisco O-line heading into this season.