49ers NFL Draft 2022: Live tracker, updates and pick-by-pick grades
By Peter Panacy
Round 6, Pick No. 187 Overall: 49ers select OL Nick Zakelj, Fordham
Spencer Burford might be an option to help reinforce the interior of the 49ers offensive line entering 2022, but the team still has a notable hole at tackle, namely the primary backup to support left tackle Trent Williams and right tackle Mike McGlinchey.
Particularly with McGlinchey working his way back from a torn quad suffered last season and in the wake of last year’s backup, Tom Compton, departing in free agency for the Denver Broncos.
Another small-school pickup, Fordham University’s Nick Zakelj has an ideal body at 6-foot-6 and 316 pounds to lock down a tackle spot on the depth chart.
As far as athleticism goes, Zakelj has enough of it to be a good outside-zone blocker, and he can hold his own in both run support and pass protection. He might be too clunky to project as anything more than a high-end backup over the course of his career, though.
Still, with McGlinchey entering a contract year, the Niners can nevertheless hope Zakelj exceeds his initial draft projection and turns into a modest starter sooner than later.
Grade: C+