49ers roster: Justin Skule a swing tackle or off the team altogether?

Fourth-year 49ers offensive lineman Justin Skule faces a critical 2022 campaign in which he could secure a key spot on the depth chart or lose a spot altogether.

For the most part, looking up and down the San Francisco 49ers’ 90-man offseason roster, it’s pretty easy to gauge where most players are going to be on the depth chart and what their respective roles are.

Not every position is like this way, though.

The Niners’ offensive line is a notable concern after losing two Pro Bowlers, Laken Tomlinson and Alex Mack, to free agency and retirement, respectively, during the offseason. And while there are guesses as to how head coach Kyle Shanahan formulates the starting lineup, the immediate backups are going to be nearly as important.

Including fourth-year pro Justin Skule.

Provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com
Generated 7/21/2022.

Skule’s third-year campaign was completely derailed by a torn ACL suffered during offseason workouts, though, and it’s safe to say that cut into the sixth-round NFL Draft pick’s development once he left Vanderbilt.

Clunky but effective, decent but not starting-caliber, Skule now enters a contract year in which he might rise into becoming San Francisco’s primary backup tackle.

If he can survive roster cuts, that is.

Why Justin Skule improves with 49ers in 2022

The 49ers deployed Skule all around the O-line his rookie season, but he ultimately lost out on the depth chart battle to fellow linemen Daniel Brunskill and Tom Compton. With Compton now a member of the Denver Broncos, Skule effectively emerges as the senior-most Niners player among the backups, a ripe-old 25 years old with three pro seasons under his belt.

In 2020, starting four games, Skule was notably up and down in the pass-blocking department, allowing two sacks and 14 pressures on 150 pass-block snaps that year, according to Pro Football Focus. But he was much more consistent in run support.

While missing all of last year could hinder his development, one might figure he’s about to hit a would-be stride and has now improved his pass-blocking technique.

Why Justin Skule has already maxed out his potential

Suffering the torn ACL last offseason didn’t work in Skule’s favor, and it’s highly possible he sorely needed 2021 to further hone his craft.

It’s also possible he’s already reached the top level of his game.

Skule, better in run support than pass protection, still isn’t a great option to open up lanes for running back, as his 2020 PFF run-blocking grade of 54.8 suggests. And with the Niners adding more linemen this year via the draft, there’s a good chance they’ve already started thinking about other options.

Projecting Justin Skule’s role with 49ers in 2022

San Francisco let Skule work with both first- and second-team units during organized team activities and mandatory minicamp, getting increased field time while starting tackles Trent Williams and Mike McGlinchey (still working his way back from last year’s quad tear) were out resting.

That’s a good interim sign for Skule. However, with returning players like Jaylon Moore and Colton McKivitz vying for a spot on the 53-man roster, it’s not like we have a clear-cut advantage for Skule.

Additionally, the 49ers grabbed those two linemen in the draft, Spencer Burford and Nick Zakelj, on day three. Both could feasibly serve as swing tackles, too, although it’s understandable they have a longer path to travel as rookies.

According to Over the Cap, Skule is set to earn up to $939,887 this season but would cost the Niners a mere $44,887 if he’s waived before Week 1. So, from that vantage point, he’s by no means guaranteed a roster spot.

For now, though, it looks as if San Francisco wants Skule to earn the swing-tackle job outright, but it isn’t in a position where he’s locked into getting it.