Niner Noise
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2022 Senior Bowl: 4 NFL Draft prospects 49ers will love

By Peter Panacy

Tight End Kenny Yeboah #88 from Mississippi of the National Team is tackled after a catch by Cornerback Bryan Mills #12 from North Carolina Central and Linebacker Jabril Cox #18 from LSU of the American Team (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
Tight End Kenny Yeboah #88 from Mississippi of the National Team is tackled after a catch by Cornerback Bryan Mills #12 from North Carolina Central and Linebacker Jabril Cox #18 from LSU of the American Team (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /
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Travis Jones, Cole Strange, Senior Bowl
National offensive lineman Cole Strange of Tennessee-Chattanooga (69) spars with National defensive lineman Travis Jones of Connecticut (57) Mandatory Credit: Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports /

49ers Senior Bowl Target No. 2: Offensive Lineman Cole Strange, UT Chattanooga

It might not seem as big a glaring issue as the secondary, but the Niners should worry considerably about their offensive line heading into 2022.

An upgrade is needed over right guard Daniel Brunskill, and last year’s second-round pick, Aaron Banks, barely sniffed the field last season. Center Alex Mack is also aging and will eventually need to be replaced, too.

So, while San Francisco might not use a Round 2 or even a Round 3 pick on an offensive lineman, it wouldn’t hurt to at least consider some long-term options to shore up the depth weaknesses.

Small-school interior offensive line prospect, Cole Strange out of the University of Tennessee Chattanooga, has been impressive during Senior Bowl workouts and earned recognition from NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein and Chase Goodbread:

"Scouts are giving Strange consistently positive reviews for his performance over the first two days of practice. He lined up at guard in college but moved to center this week. He’s played substantially stronger at the point of attack than his leaner frame might indicate and has held up reasonably well against bull rushers when tested. After getting beat by power on one rep, he came back with a quick set, which allowed him to halt the bull rush before it could even get started. He’s a rising, zone-scheme center with the talent to start in the NFL."

A player like Strange could immediately serve as a primary backup at one of the three interior positions, particularly with solid upside in both pass protection and run support, and he’d have the long-term potential of turning into Mack’s eventual replacement.

Provided Strange winds up showing up on the positive side of scouting reports as he has so far.