49ers roster: Mike McGlinchey needs to bounce back big in 2022

After missing half of 2021 with a torn quad, 49ers right tackle Mike McGlinchey needs to return as an anchor point for a questionable offensive line.

While there may have been only minor talk about it, it’s a good thing the San Francisco 49ers elected not to move on from their top pick from the 2018 NFL Draft, right tackle Mike McGlinchey after the first four years of his rookie contract were up.

Electing to pick up his fully guaranteed fifth-year option for $10.88 million in 2022, retaining McGlinchey ensures the Niners offensive line is only 40-percent changed from Week 1 a year ago in the wake of losing Pro Bowlers Laken Tomlinson and Alex Mack to free agency and retirement, respectively.

Had San Francisco not picked up the option and McGlinchey departed, the team would be looking at three-fifths turnover.

Not exactly ideal in light of the scheduled transition to second-year quarterback Trey Lance.

Provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com
Generated 7/5/2022.

Not everything is alleviated, though. Halfway through the 2021 season, after the 49ers picked up his option, McGlinchey suffered a season-ending quad tear that still casts a shadow on his readiness for the upcoming 2022 campaign.

And while signs are pointing towards him being fully ready by training camp, it’s a concern the Niners will nevertheless have until he proves he’s at 100 percent.

Let’s break down why 2022 is so important to both McGlinchey and San Francisco.

Why Mike McGlinchey bounces back nicely for 49ers in 2022

The No. 9 overall pick out of Notre Dame in 2018 arguably showed signs of improvement in 2021 over his 2020 campaign, particularly in pass protection and after he added some much-needed weight to counter some of the bull-rush problems he displayed earlier.

According to Pro Football Focus, McGlinchey’s pass-blocking grade jumped to 70.0 last season before his injury, up significantly from the 58.3 mark the year prior, and it wasn’t hard to use the eye test to suggest he was making notable strides in this department, being credited with just two sacks and 13 pressures over eight games instead of the five and 37, respectively, over 16 games in 2022.

Always a quality run-blocker, this improvement suggests McGlinchey is finally coming into form in pass protection, which was the knock against him from his collegiate days, and one can hope that’ll remain the trend after his injury.

Why Mike McGlinchey regresses for 49ers this season

Quad injuries are nothing to scoff at. And while we won’t play the role of physicians here, it’s not entirely uncommon for these setbacks to completely alter or derail a player’s career.

True, general manager John Lynch gave enthusiastic overtones about McGlinchey’s recovery earlier this offseason. But after missing all of the 49ers’ offseason workouts thus far, it’s understandable if the four-year pro needs some extra time during training camp and the preseason to get back into football shape.

Whether or not that impacts his ability to return at the same level as he was prior to his injury is anyone’s guess, but there’s also going to be a concern about aggravating the injury again or suffering a corresponding injury to his opposite leg, which can also be common for lower-body injuries.

Either scenario panning out would be a huge blow to the Niners O-line.

Why 49ers, Mike McGlinchey both need each other badly in 2022

Last season, when McGlinchey was lost for the year, San Francisco elected to give journeyman backup Tom Compton the starting job at right tackle.

This move worked out well enough in run support, but Compton was nevertheless a liability in pass protection. And with Compton leaving via free agency for the Denver Broncos, that doesn’t matter anyway heading into 2022.

Should McGlinchey miss even more time this season, the 49ers would likely be asking unproven and/or unspectacular backups like Justin Skule, Colton McKivitz, Jaylon Moore or a rookie like Nick Zakelj to fill in.

Related Story: 3 options 49ers have if Mike McGlinchey isn’t ready by Week 1

None of those options are particularly inspiring.

Even if McGlinchey stays healthy, though, it’s important to note he’s playing on a contract year, either hoping to impress the Niners enough to justify an extension or re-sign deal in 2023 and beyond.

Or another suitor on the open market, should he hit free agency.

McGlinchey can thrive in a run-first offense, and he’ll want to do that, yet him showing off some solid pass-protection skills in light of all the changes San Francisco’s O-line underwent during the offseason will help alleviate some of the worry points the team will have in 2022.