NFL Draft: 49ers have a potential target after East-West Shrine Game

The East-West Shrine Game isn’t something your average 49ers fan pays a lot of attention to, but it could be a way to find a hidden gem in the NFL Draft.

The East-West Shrine Game is not exactly the highlight of the NFL Draft process, and the average San Francisco 49ers fan may not even be aware that it’s been done and dusted already.

The game itself, much like the much more-hyped Senior Bowl, doesn’t exactly matter that much. What’s more important are the practices that let teams look at the technique and physical abilities of these players.

Remember, unlike the Senior Bowl, the players in the East-West Shrine Game are not going to be high draft picks. In fact, there’s a very good chance most of them won’t even be drafted.

Read More: 49ers NFL Draft: 4 players who made the most out of Senior Bowl

But for those who impress, it could be the difference between being an undrafted free agent and convincing a team to spend a draft pick on you.

One player who did impress was San Jose State offensive lineman Jack Snyder.

Snyder is a good size for an offensive lineman at 6-foot-5 and 310 pounds, but his relatively short arm span for the position had people concerned about how he would fare at the next level. But Snyder showed he could handle himself with some impressive practice reps as well as in snaps during the actual game:

What will encourage teams is his willingness to take reps at a different position. While he’s been a tackle in college, he showed he has the potential to move inside as a guard in the NFL.

The 49ers always have a need for some depth on the offensive line. Starting guard Laken Tomlinson is a free agent and could very well be expensive to keep after his Pro Bowl season, while center Alex Mack has been mulling retirement, which could necessitate moving starting guard Daniel Brunskill to center if no alternative can be found.

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Snyder will not require a high draft pick and will be found well into Day 3 of the draft.

But he’s flashed definite potential and his versatility to play tackle or guard would fit in well with the 49ers’ love for versatility. He’s someone San Francisco could do well to consider investing in.