49ers fix free-agent losses in this 7-round mock NFL Draft
102. player. 861. . Offensive Tackle. Cougars . Blake Freeland
Round 3, Pick No. 102 Overall: 49ers select OT Blake Freeland
Whether or not Mike McGlinchey lost too much weight in the offseason, or he could hold his own at right tackle is no longer relevant. After five seasons for San Francisco, he’s packed his bags and is headed to the Denver Broncos.
He came in to block for quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, opposite 49ers legend Joe Staley, so McGlinchey exiting the building with Garoppolo was kind of apropos.
Just before his departure, the Niners inked Colton McKivitz to a two-year extension. John Lynch knew that McGlinchey was due a sizable payday and wasn’t willing to engage in a bidding war for the five-year veteran.
McKivitz knows the system and is a good fit for San Francisco. However, what will they do outside of him, and what about a successor for probable Hall of Famer Trent Williams?
Drafting Blake Freeland out of BYU wouldn’t be a bad start. He’s one of the very few bright spots, who will be around in the third round, in a very thin offensive tackle class.
In four years on the right side, Freeland has only given up two quarterback sacks. At 6-foot-7 and weighing 302 pounds, he and Trent Williams will be absolute bookends and will provide more than enough protection for quarterback Brock Purdy.
He’s versatile, playing on the left as well, just as skilled in the run game as he is in the passing game, has the agility of a tight end, and he set a new Combine record for offensive linemen with a vertical jump of 37 inches.
Freeland is an absolute steal in the third round for Lynch. Without question, he’s the future of the offensive front in San Francisco and should be on the radar moving forward.