Trey Lance’s ideal 49ers 7-round mock 2022 NFL Draft

Round 3, Pick No. 93 Overall: Trey Lance has 49ers select IOL Luke Fortner, Kentucky

Trey Lance also has to understand San Francisco’s offensive line will look noticeably different than it did last season when he saw two starts.

Pro Bowl left guard Laken Tomlinson is gone, likely replaced by fellow 2021 rookie guard Aaron Banks, and there might be a need to upgrade right guard over Daniel Brunskill while finding a long-term replacement for veteran center Alex Mack.

Finding a center who has the ability to call out blitzes and protections will be vital, and Kentucky’s Luke Fortner is one of the more cerebral interior linemen available in this year’s draft class.

At 6-foot-4 and 307 pounds, Fortner will eventually find his way into a starting center role at some point, but the 49ers could afford to at least put him in the mix as a starter at right guard, competing with Brunskill for those duties. Equally adept in run support and pass protection, Lance would feel comfortable continuing his own maturation with a young up-and-coming player like Fortner in front of him for years to come.