49ers roster: 3 deepest positions entering 2021 season
By Peter Panacy
49ers Deep Position No. 2: Offensive Line
2020 revealed just how a handful of injuries can create a ripple effect all along the offensive line. With the Niners missing now-retired center Weston Richburg, a number of fill-in replacements were required to fill the void, shaking up the entire O-line depth chart and creating an almost-weekly new lineup.
Not ideal.
San Francisco hopes to have solved this by adding free-agent center Alex Mack during the offseason, thereby pushing Daniel Brunskill back from a third-string center to a starting right guard. Or an immediate backup for all five spots along the O-line in the wake of the 49ers using a second-round draft pick on offensive guard Aaron Banks.
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Banks was just one of two linemen the Niners drafted, the other being former Western Michigan tackle Jaylon Moore, who’ll compete with Brunskill, Senio Kelemete, Colton McKivitz and Shon Coleman, among others, for three or four of the primary depth spots along the O-line.
Brunskill, Kelemete and Coleman have all been regular starters at various points in their respective careers, so San Francisco doesn’t have to worry about rolling out untested depth if this position group winds up suffering a good deal of injury attrition this year.
Hopefully, as a result, the 49ers O-line ends up being far more productive in 2021.