The 49ers opted not to use early draft picks on offensive linemen, meaning Jake Brendel's job entering 2025 is all but guaranteed.
There were plenty of fans and pundits pounding the table for the San Francisco 49ers to use one of their early picks in the 2025 NFL Draft to grab an offensive lineman.
Especially if that lineman was a center, someone who'd serve as an immediate upgrade over (and long-term replacement for) the veteran incumbent, Jake Brendel.
Analyzing Brendel's efforts is controversial enough, with one camp feeling he's by far the weakest link while others point elsewhere, such as at right tackle Colton McKivitz or at now-Green Bay Packers left guard Aaron Banks.
Either way, it made some sense for the Niners to seek out a replacement for Brendel, who'll turn 33 years old this upcoming season.
Except San Francisco didn't exactly see things the same way.
Jake Brendel's job is fully safe after 49ers' moves in NFL Draft
The 49ers did draft an offensive lineman, Iowa's Connor Colby in Round 7. But Colby projects as little more than an interior O-line backup over the next few years, nothing more.
So, from that vantage point, Brendel's job entering 2025 is essentially guaranteed. There's almost no other legitimate competition for him on the Niners roster, and the predicted depth chart heading toward offseason workouts probably looks something like this:
- Jake Brendel
- Matt Hennessy
- Drake Nugent
- Nick Zakelj
Related story: 49ers' best, worst and most intriguing picks from 2025 NFL Draft
It might be interesting to watch which backups get second-team reps behind Brendel in training camp, as the No. 2 job is certainly up for grabs.
But, in light of San Francisco bypassing any perceived need for a younger, more athletic center, Brendel doesn't exactly have to feel the heat of a highly touted prospect gunning for his job right away.