49ers roster: 5 players who dodged the ax with Niners draft results
By Peter Panacy
No. 4: 49ers right tackle Mike McGlinchey
Arguably safer than some, the Niners already committed to right tackle Mike McGlinchey by picking up his fully guaranteed fifth-year option for 2022, even though he ended up missing half of 2021 after suffering a torn quad.
Signs are pointing to McGlinchey making a full recovery, which is good, but there’s no indication San Francisco is planning on offering him a second contract. And with plenty of high-quality offensive tackles available on the first two days of the draft, it wouldn’t have been overly shocking to see the 49ers find McGlinchey’s long-term replacement at some point between Rounds 2 and 3.
Well, the Niners passed on that opportunity.
True, San Francisco added two linemen in the draft, UTSA’s Spencer Burford in Round 4 and Fordham’s Nick Zakelj in Round 6. But both are likely pegged as potential long-term guards at the NFL level, and neither should be considered shoo-ins to fully replace McGlinchey at tackle.
Had the 49ers used a day-two pick on a tackle, it likely would have meant McGlinchey would be jettisoned after his final season with the Niners, if not dangled as trade bait between now and Week 1.
At least for now, he’s fully safe.