49ers free agency: Predicting landing spots for top 5 free agents

49ers free-agent No. 1: Left guard Laken Tomlinson

The Niners may have to let key players like Raheem Mostert, K’Waun Williams and D.J. Jones slip away in NFL free agency so they can have enough money to extend other star players like wide receiver Deebo Samuel and EDGE Nick Bosa while also ensuring the bulk of their offensive line stays intact.

San Francisco already has some serious question marks along the O-line this offseason. Right tackle Mike McGlinchey will be working his way back from a season-ending quad injury. Center Alex Mack has been mulling retirement and will need to be replaced eventually, perhaps in 2023, and there’s a need to upgrade at right guard, either over Daniel Brunskill or in case 2021 rookie Aaron Banks fails to live up to par.

Creating another concern by letting left guard Laken Tomlinson walk could potentially be disastrous, too, especially considering Tomlinson has been the epitome of reliability since that 2017 trade with the Lions.

Tomlinson hasn’t missed a start since, his 2021 campaign with the 49ers being a Pro Bowl capstone.

That could earn Tomlinson as much as $12 million on the open market, annually, and the Niners should probably prioritize him above all other free-agent options they’d otherwise like to re-sign.

Prediction: San Francisco 49ers