The 49ers have likely known for a while, but Alex Mack is officially retiring this offseason, leaving the offensive line with a gaping hole needing to be filled.
After months of speculation and rumor, NFL insider Mike Silver reported the San Francisco 49ers were indeed going to lose their veteran Pro Bowl center, Alex Mack, to the retirement queue.
There had been reports the 36-year-old Mack was mulling over retirement, particularly after getting married during the offseason and in the wake of a 13-year career with the Cleveland Browns, Atlanta Falcons and Niners.
And while San Francisco might have been aware of Mack’s intentions, Thursday’s news effectively made it official:
Seven-time Pro Bowl center Alex Mack is retiring after 13 seasons. The former Browns, Falcons and 49ers standout was one of the top linemen of his era. @BallySports @49ers
— Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) June 2, 2022
Mack reworked his deal just before news of his retirement broke, suggesting this decision was imminent.
And while the 49ers will benefit from some increased cap space, they have a bigger question to answer.
Who replaces Mack at center?
49ers option to replace Alex Mack No. 4: Dohnovan West
It’s usually a reach to thrust an undrafted free agent like former Arizona State center Dohnovan West into a starting lineup right out of the gate.
But make no mistake, West should have been a drafted player. Exactly how he slipped through all seven rounds of the 2022 NFL Draft and onto the Niners’ offseason roster is anyone’s guess, but San Francisco certainly shouldn’t complain.
Read More: 49ers won UDFA period by signing Dohnovan West
The 6-foot-3, 296-pound West was a three-year starter for the Sun Devils, and that experience should bode well as he transitions into the NFL ranks. And while he was a UDFA player, there were plenty of mocks out there suggesting he’d easily be a Round 4 pick, some even going as far to suggest he could be grabbed in the third round, too.
Still, West is a rookie, and he might be the least favorable option San Francisco has to replace Mack.
For now.
49ers option to replace Alex Mack No. 3: Jake Brendel
Head coach Kyle Shanahan has long preferred veterans at center over rookies, meaning someone like journeyman backup Jake Brendel would have a much better chance at replacing Alex Mack over a rookie like Dohnovan West.
Brendel, who originally signed with the 49ers back in 2020 but opted out of that season because of the pandemic, joined the NFL as an undrafted free-agent signing of the Dallas Cowboys in 2016 before seeing on-field time with the Miami Dolphins from that year through 2018, albeit in an awfully limited fashion.
He also found spots on both the Baltimore Ravens and Denver Broncos’ preseason rosters.
Brendel has just three regular-season starts under his belt, yet he served as Mack’s primary backup on the Niners’ 53-man roster a year ago.
That carries some weight, and Brendel has also been working with San Francisco’s first-team unit during organized team activities, too, suggesting he’ll get the first crack at being the No. 1 option.
49ers option to replace Alex Mack No. 2: Daniel Brunskill
The 2020 season sheds some light on what the 49ers may have to experience heading into a post-Alex Mack era. For those who forgot, the Niners were going to be without their previous starter entering that season, Weston Richburg, which created a revolving door at the position that eventually settled upon a solution of bumping the versatile Daniel Brunskill over from guard.
Brunskill, who’s currently slated to start at right guard in 2022, played San Francisco’s final eight games in 2020 at center.
It wasn’t hard to recognize Brunskill regressed a bit in this role, though, and it’s fair to wonder if this spot might be his weakest positioning among an otherwise flexible list of O-line assignments.
There’s another caveat, though, as pointed out by Pro Football Focus’ Jeff Deeney:
I have to think with the instability at both guard positions, the #49ers go out and sign a veteran center. I can’t imagine they want to start the Lance era with question marks at all three interior line spots.
— Jeff Deeney (@PFF_Jeff) June 2, 2022
The 49ers are poised to start second-year lineman Aaron Banks at left guard this season, and Banks had only five regular-season offensive snaps a season ago. Opening up a new void at right guard, should Brunskill move over, would mean a shaky interior for the Niners O-line.
Not exactly the best of ways to ensure quarterback Trey Lance is adequately protected.
That might convince Kyle Shanahan and Co. to go outside of their own on-roster options.
49ers option to replace Alex Mack No. 1: J.C. Tretter
Alex Mack’s retirement does free up a sizable amount of cap space, $4 million if we’re being precise. And while San Francisco subsequently used some of that to sign two of their rookie NFL Draft picks, EDGE Drake Jackson and cornerback Samuel Womack, it might still have cash left over to tackle a still-available free agent.
Someone like veteran center J.C. Tretter.
Tretter, 31 years old, is still available on the NFL free agency market despite being a long-time starter for both the Green Bay Packers and Cleveland Browns. And while injuries have cut into his otherwise solid career, the veteran managed to stay mostly healthy during his Cleveland tenure.
Want your voice heard? Join the Niner Noise team!
Sure, Tretter might not be quite at the same level as Mack, at least in terms of Pro Bowl prowess (Tretter has zero compared to Mack’s seven), and the former would also have difficulty adjusting to Kyle Shanahan’s offense on relatively short notice.
However, given Shanahan’s preference for landing veteran centers instead of rookies or even players with not a ton of regular-season experience, someone like Tretter might be the best possible option.
Assuming the 49ers were aware Mack’s retirement was coming, though, they might already have their plan in place.
Whether or not that includes Tretter is anyone’s guess at this point.