49ers Drake Jackson, 4 other rookies who break out right away
By Peter Panacy
49ers breakout rookie No. 4: Offensive guard Spencer Burford
Context might have to be key for the 49ers’ fourth-round pick from this year’s draft, former UTSA offensive lineman Spencer Burford.
Should the Niners slate backup lineman Jake Brendel at center in the wake of veteran Pro Bowler Alex Mack’s retirement, Burford won’t have as great of a chance to crack the starting lineup.
However, there’s an understandable argument San Francisco would be better off moving last year’s starting right guard, Daniel Brunskill, over to center this season. If this happens, it’ll create a void at right guard in Brunskill’s wake.
One Burford might be poised to seize.
The 49ers loved the 6-foot-4, 304-pound lineman’s athleticism and physicality, and those traits will give him a much better shot at securing a starter’s role over some of the Niners’ other rookie linemen, such as Dohnovan West and Nick Zakelj, and it’s possible Burford ends up impressing more than some of San Francisco’s incumbents, too.
If he is able to beat out reserve linemen like Jaylon Moore and Colton McKivitz, and if Brunskill ends up securing the starting center role, don’t be shocked if Burford winds up being an impressive O-line rookie in 2022.