49ers bolster offensive line with well-traveled veteran tackle
By Peter Panacy
The 49ers have reached an agreement with veteran lineman Chris Hubbard on a one-year deal, according to a report from ESPN.
The San Francisco 49ers didn't make as many big-ticket changes to their offensive line during the offseason as some may have thought they would.
Instead of using a first-round pick in the NFL Draft on an offensive lineman, general manager John Lynch and Co. opted to grab wide receiver Ricky Pearsall. Then, the Niners waited until Round 3 to finally grab a lineman in former Kansas State blocker Dominick Puni, who figures to compete for a guard spot.
Then, in Round 6, San Francisco added a versatile option in Jarrett Kingston, who'll battle for a reserve role on the depth chart.
These moves seemed to ensure that incumbent right tackle Colton McKivitz, arguably the weakest link on the 49ers O-line, was safe in his role heading into 2024.
While that still could be the case, the Niners at least added some viable competition for McKivitz heading into offseason workouts.
49ers sign OT Chris Hubbard to a 1-year deal, per report
According to a report from ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, San Francisco is signing 33-year-old veteran tackle Chris Hubbard to a one-year deal:
Source: The #49ers are signing veteran offensive lineman Chris Hubbard.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) May 14, 2024
Hubbard started nine games for Tennessee last season before going to IR. Healthy now. Gives San Francisco a viable swing option.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported shortly thereafter that the deal was worth up to $1.375 million.
With the 49ers' offseason roster at 90 players (plus one on the NFL's International Pathway program), there'll have to be at least one transaction to make room for Hubbard, but the Niners have yet to officially announce which player has been removed from the roster.
Hubbard entered the league as an undrafted free-agent signing of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2013 before getting into regular-season action the following year.
Over 10 seasons with the Steelers, Cleveland Browns and Tennessee Titans, Hubbard has played in 94 games, starting 58 of them in a number of different roles.
The Niners potentially see him as a swing-tackle candidate, capable of backing up both McKivitz and All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams, assuming McKivitz still wins out the starting job again in 2024.
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