49ers do the needful, take an O-lineman in latest CBS Sports mock NFL Draft

The 49ers won't have too many roster needs in the 2024 NFL Draft, but CBS Sports nailed it with the Niners' first pick in their latest mock.

There can't be too many complaints about the San Francisco 49ers in 2023, at least in terms of how the roster is currently constructed.

However, one might call out two specific areas of weakness: cornerback and the offensive line.

Aside from All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams, and to a lesser extend, left guard Aaron Banks, the Niners have largely gotten by with a patchwork unit comprised of reserves and backups who have ended up being promoted into full-time starting roles.

It's worked, sort of. But the results haven't been great.

Right tackle Colton McKivitz is widely viewed as the weakest link on the O-line, and Pro Football Focus currently has him graded at 58.7, which isn't stellar and is much closer to a liability. Yet San Francisco trusted him to take over for now-Denver Broncos right tackle Mike McGlinchey last offseason, but one can safely wonder if that's the best long-term choice.

CBS Sports is certainly wondering this much in their latest mock NFL Draft.

CBS Sports has 49ers drafting an upgrade over Colton McKivitz in 2024

The 49ers are a ways away from worrying about the 2024 draft, but their needs are already pretty apparent.

Upgrading the O-line should be high on the list of relatively few priorities.

CBS Sports' Josh Edwards came up with a recent mock, which focused on plenty of wide receiver talent going in Round 1.

For the Niners, however, Edwards pegs BYU offensive tackle Kingsley Suamataia at No. 28 overall, and here's what Edwards had to say about the selection:

"San Francisco needs to make multiple changes to its offensive line this offseason. Replacing Colton McKivitz with Kingsley Suamataia is Stage 1 of the transformation."

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Known for quality pass protection, the 6-foot-6 and 325-pound transfer from the University of Oregon has the ideal build and play style to be a day-one starter, and it's likely that San Francisco would peg him into that kind of job right out of the gate.

Sure, it might not be the flashy playmaking kind of pick that fans love to see in Round 1, but it'd be an awfully smart bet and long-term investment.

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