Let's face it, the San Francisco 49ers left the 2026 NFL Draft with more questions than answers. While they came away with some talented rookies, John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan sure did raise a few eyebrows with their selections.
But one of the most surprising draft decisions in San Francisco was one they didn't make. The team entered the draft with a clear need for an upgrade at left guard. Curiously, they elected to let the guard options pass them by until selecting Carver Willis in the fourth round.
Willis, a natural right guard, isn't expected to fill the starting spot on the left.
As team insider Nick Wagoner pointed out, the need for a starting left guard hasn't changed. The Niners still have time to bring in a veteran answer before the season gets going, and one free agent sticks out as an obvious fit.
While the price tag might be higher than Lynch would prefer, Joel Bitonio should be a no-brainer addition for San Francisco.
49ers staring down obvious Joel Bitonio signing after NFL Draft
In recent years, the 49ers have made a habit of finding passable starters on the offensive line in the later rounds of the draft. At least in his rookie season, Connor Colby did not continue the trend. The 2025 seventh-round pick gave up three sacks in his first four starts and was relegated to the bench by the end of the season. Now, he's in line to regain the starting job for the beginning of the 2026 campaign.
Unless he's made major strides since his most recent showings, that should be a concern for the Niners. At the very least, they should be looking to add competition for the starting left guard spot.
Bitonio isn't just competition. He's a certified solution. The 12-year veteran is one of the most consistent offensive linemen in football, having played at least 1,000 snaps in each of the last nine seasons for the Cleveland Browns. He would slot into the 49ers' starting lineup and give an immediate boost to the O-line.
Spotrac currently estimates that Bitonio's market value is around $12.9 million per year. It's more than San Francisco typically pays on the interior of its line, but a veteran presence like this is worth the price.
He's as solid an answer as Lynch is likely to find before the start of the 2026 season.
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