The 49ers haven't drafted an offensive tackle in ages (not an exaggeration), and that might prove to be a bad strategy.
One has to rewind all the way back to the 2021 NFL Draft to find the last time the San Francisco 49ers drafted a pure offensive tackle.
And that player isn't even on the Niners roster anymore.
In Round 5 of that year's draft, San Francisco selected now-Kansas City Chiefs tackle Jaylon Moore, who admirably served as the 49ers' primary backup and swing tackle in recent seasons before cashing in on a lucrative free-agent deal over in K.C.
Either way, that's a long, long time ago.
#49ers have made 37 picks in their last four drafts.
— Eric Branch (@Eric_Branch) April 28, 2025
Here's how many offensive tackles they've selected: 0
Entering the 2024 draft, many speculated the 49ers would select at least one offensive tackle, given how deep that year's class was at the position. Yet the Niners didn't act.
Entering 2025, speculation continued about the need for an offensive tackle. While some felt San Francisco would use one of its three day-two selections to infuse talent, the 49ers elected not to.
Turns out, the Niners were hoping to add a tackle, yet the draft board simply didn't shake out that way.
"There were a number of times that we were interested in adding and it just didn't come our way," general manager John Lynch told reporters after the draft. "And you’ve got to stay true to where you have guys graded, not take guys just to take them but to take guys that you're interested in at that point. And it just never really aligned."
Lynch made a decent point. The Las Vegas Raiders selected two offensive linemen just before San Francisco late in Round 3, Texas Tech's Caleb Rogers and William & Mary's Charles Grant, likely prompting the 49ers to pass on the position and select defensive back Upton Stout instead.
Offensive guard Connor Colby, taken in Round 7, was the only offensive lineman selected in this year's draft, and he figures to stay on the interior.
So, is a problem brewing?
49ers may regret passing on offensive tackles in the near future
Moore's departure opens up the door for a new swing tackle, but the lack of a plug-and-play rookie means the 49ers will scramble to find an adequate replacement already on the roster.
But the bigger issue might be identifying long-term replacements for both right tackle Colton McKivitz and All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams, the latter turning 37 years old later this summer.
While Williams reiterated his desire to keep playing through 2025, the inevitability of his soon retirement is there, and no likely successor has been identified.
It's an issue that could hit the Niners as early as 2026.
As for McKivitz, while many feel he's the weakest link in a substandard O-line that lacks punch beyond Williams, perception is different than reality. McKivitz has been, at the very least, serviceable. Yet he's entering a contract year, too, and could find himself playing elsewhere in 2026.
That means San Francisco has to find not one replacement at tackle, but possibly two.
And the 49ers could pay the price for not investing in those potential needs sooner.