In the days leading up to the 2026 NFL Draft, several Bay Area media insiders and analysts felt the San Francisco 49ers wouldn't bother using one of their earlier picks to address the offensive line.
That proved to be the case, and general manager John Lynch didn't bother selecting an offensive lineman until grabbing Washington tackle Carver Willis in Round 4 at No. 127 overall. A round later, Lynch selected Kansas offensive lineman Enrique Cruz Jr. at No. 179 overall.
This jives with the theme the Niners have deployed in recent seasons—not using premiere draft capital on linemen, rather trying to find value picks much later in the draft.
However, after losing Spencer Burford in free agency, San Francisco still doesn't have a clear-cut answer at left guard in between left tackle Trent Williams and center Jake Brendel. While there are several possibilities, now including both Willis and Cruz, the prime favorite to win the job is a total unknown.
And it's something ESPN couldn't avoid pointing out.
ESPN cites 49ers' left guard situation as biggest post-draft roster hole
ESPN's Aaron Schatz evaluated all 32 teams' biggest roster weaknesses and holes with the draft now in the rearview mirror, and it shouldn't be shocking whatsoever to 49ers fans what he felt the Niners' biggest issue was.
Left guard.
Here's what Schatz had to say about the apparent void:
There are four players ready to compete for the position. The probable starter is Connor Colby, who started six games last season as a seventh-round rookie. The 49ers also signed Robert Jones, who started a full season for Miami in 2024 and then signed with Dallas but lost the entire 2025 season to a broken bone in his neck.
The other two options are possible tackle-to-guard conversions from this year's draft: fourth-rounder Carver Willis and fifth-rounder Enrique Cruz Jr. Both players were drafted higher than Scouts Inc. had them ranked for ESPN. (Willis was ranked 206th and went 127th, while Cruz was ranked 258th and went 179th.)
Indeed, San Francisco has options. But it lacks any true proven favorites. Jones, the veteran, might be a preferred candidate, alongside another offseason free-agent pickup, Brett Toth.
And, unless the 49ers opt to grab one of the still-available free-agent guards out there—Joel Bitonio is a name thrown out there—it's likely a competition that'll go unanswered until training camp's conclusion.
So, perhaps, maybe ESPN has a valid point.
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