Did 49ers hit or reach on their last 6 top-10 NFL Draft picks?

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San Francisco 49ers offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey (69) Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

49ers 2018 top-10 NFL Draft pick: Mike McGlinchey

No. 9 overall

Offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey was selected ninth overall in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft out of Notre Dame.

McGlinchey started all 16 regular-season games at right tackle and made the 2018 NFL All-Rookie Team. He followed it up with a 2019 season in which he played well, doing some excellent run blocking in a run-heavy offense.

In 2020, in a season with so many players lost to injury, McGlinchey’s Achilles heel started to show. While he was still stellar in the run game with a Pro Football Focus run-blocking grade of 92.6, his PFF pass-blocking grade was a measly 55.1.

McGlinchey would continue to struggle in 2021, starting in eight games before eventually suffering a season-ending quad injury. The 49ers were 3-5 at that point in the season, and all looked bleak.

However, when Tom Compton replaced McGlinchey at right tackle, the Niners finished the second half of 2021 with a 7-2 record en route to a playoff berth.

McGlinchey finished his 2021 season with a 69.8 overall PFF grade, while Compton finished with an 86.5 overall PFF grade.

McGlinchey’s overall career over the past four seasons has been a bit tumultuous. Looking back at the 2018 NFL Draft, no other offensive linemen taken after him in the first round has earned an All-Pro selection.

However, All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick was taken two spots after him and another All-Pro safety Derwin James was taken eight spots after McGlinchey, too.

And if San Francisco had waited until the third round to draft an offensive lineman, and taken linebacker Fred Warner earlier, eventual three-time Pro Bowl tackle Orlando Brown Jr. would have been available.

Hit or Reach: Reach