The San Francisco 49ers didn't do a lot to address their offensive line during the 2025 NFL Draft, their lone move grabbing Iowa offensive guard Connor Colby in Round 7.
Colby might have a long way to go to earn a spot on the 53-man roster, which helps explain why the Niners immediately went after former Colorado State offensive lineman Drew Moss right after the draft concluded.
The undrafted Moss is identical to Colby in a lot of ways. Both players have shorter arms but performed well during pre-draft workouts, running a 4.58 20-yard shuttle at their respective pro days. And, as Sports Illustrated's Grant Cohn pointed out, that bodes well for an offense that runs a lot of outside-zone blocking.
Now, the chances of either a seventh-round or undrafted O-lineman making a 53-man roster in year one are slim, at best. So, the likelihood either Colby or Moss survive pre-Week 1 roster cuts isn't great.
But, having two similarly built linemen competing for one role offers at least modestly better chances of one of them panning out in the long run.
49ers hope Drew Moss becomes a moldable project
It's never a bad idea to have a constant influx of developing linemen way down the depth chart. San Francisco understands the value of this already, including this offseason after watching left guard Aaron Banks depart via free agency, leaving a void for the likes of Ben Bartch to fill.
But Bartch is already dealing with a injury as training camp commences, meaning other depth options like the 6-foot-3 and 303-pound Moss should see an uptick in reps until Bartch returns healthy.
If Moss is able to tap into his athleticism, it'll go a long way toward ascending the depth chart toward a serviceable role.
HIGHLY UNDERRATED 2025 NFL Draft Gem:
— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) April 12, 2025
Colorado State G Drew Moss 🐏
▪️ 90.5 PFF grade
▪️ 92.5 run block grade
▪️ 98.8% pass block efficiency
▪️ Four-year starter at RG and RT
Posted a 9.28 RAS, including a 4.58 short shuttle—92nd percentile in a metric highly predictive of… pic.twitter.com/Hv4N8w38C4
An actual role on the 53-man roster is still a long way away, though, meaning the former Colorado State standout might require a year or two on the practice squad to hone his development.
That said, the 49ers have shied away from stashing developmental players of this ilk before, and Moss might be the next in line.
Even if it means not getting to know his name fully until 2026 or 2027.