49ers training camp: 5 starting jobs fully up for grabs
By Peter Panacy
49ers starting position No. 2: Right guard
Players in the mix: Daniel Brunskill, Jaylon Moore, Spencer Burford, Colton McKivitz, Justin Skule, Nick Zakelj, Jason Poe
If anything, the entire interior of the Niners’ offensive line is a question mark, only highlighted by Alex Mack’s retirement and the free-agent departure of Pro Bowl left guard Laken Tomlinson.
San Francisco’s plan to replace Tomlinson dates back to last year when it used a second-round pick on former Notre Dame left guard Aaron Banks, who nevertheless saw just five offensive snaps his rookie year but is apparently fully poised to start in year two in this spot.
Should the 49ers move Daniel Brunskill over from right guard, that’s a void right there. However, the Niners may want to see if there’s an upgrade over Brunskill anyway, potentially reverting him back into a still-important key reserve.
Yes, San Francisco has plenty of contenders for this job, but that doesn’t mean any are high-quality options.
Returning veterans such as Jaylon Moore, Colton McKivitz and Justin Skule have all been given respective chances at increased roles, yet none have come close to separating from the pack. And while there’s always hope for rookies like Spencer Burford, Nick Zakelj and even the undrafted Jason Poe to make a dent, the inevitable “we’ll see” always applies here when addressing first-year players.
At any rate, the 49ers’ interior O-line situation is awfully fluid, and that’s not necessarily a good thing.