49ers rumors: San Francisco looking at offensive line trades

The San Francisco 49ers still have their eyes set on a postseason appearance this year, but they will need to break away from the formula that has worked in the last few seasons. In addition to Trey Lance taking over at quarterback, the offensive line looks totally different.

Left tackle Trent Williams is as firmly entrenched in his starting position as any lineman in the league. Beyond that, question marks permeate every area of the line. Mike McGlinchey struggling with an injury has made an already tense situation even more difficult.

The 49ers have had some of the league’s best lines over the last few years, but this year is a much different story. After losing Alex Mack to retirement and watching Laken Tomlinson leave to join the New York Jets, the line has deteriorated to the point where a move is necessary.

According to Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle, John Lynch has begun exploring trades for improved offensive line depth. While no trade is imminent, it shows that Kyle Shanahan is not pleased with how the line has performed in their first preseason tests.

The 49ers could acquire some offensive linemen in a trade.

While the 49ers drafted Aaron Banks with the thought he would eventually be a long-term contributor, he has yet to start a game in the pros. The center spot is still up for grabs, as Daniel Brunskill and Jake Brendel are duking it out. Neither of them will likely be the next Jesse Sapolu.

On the right side, Spencer Burford will likely be in for the learning curve that impacts many rookies when they move into the starting lineup. Jaylon Moore and Colton McKivitz are just two of the names that are locking horns in their quest to become the primary backup to McGlinchey.

While Lance could, in theory, make up for a worse offensive line more than Jimmy Garoppolo due to his mobility, asking a rookie to deal with poor offensive line play is a death sentence. If Lynch and Shanahan even have an inkling that this line could be a disaster, a move will need to be made.

The 49ers lack a first-round pick as a result of the Lance move up, and they parted with a sixth-rounder to acquire Charles Omenihu. While Lynch might not have a cupboard overflowing with assets at this point in time, that shouldn’t necessarily stop Lynch from seeing what’s out there.

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