49ers free agency: Predicting which free agents Niners re-sign

49ers 2022 NFL free agency predictions: Offensive lineman Tom Compton

Albeit for very different reasons, San Francisco seems to appreciate and value veteran offensive lineman Tom Compton much more than the fanbase. And when starting right tackle Mike McGlinchey was lost to a season-ending quad injury halfway through 2021, it was Compton who ended up filling the void.

Compton actually managed to hold his own in run support for much of the year and into the playoffs, although his weaknesses in pass protection were surely noticeable, and the Rams made good use of attacking his side of the line during the NFC Championship game.

Turning 33 years old by the start of the 2022 season, Compton’s would-be return on a cheap deal is almost entirely contingent upon how well McGlinchey recovers from his injury. Ideally, the 49ers develop some of their younger versatile linemen such as Colton McKivitz and Jaylon Moore, both of whom found themselves below Compton on the depth chart.

Still, Compton is the kind of player teams likely seek upgrades over, and let’s go ahead and predict that’s what the Niners will want to do in this case.

Prediction: Not re-signed