The San Francisco 49ers already can't be feeling too good about the Los Angeles Rams' blockbuster trade for the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, defensive end Myles Garrett.
And the Niners will feel even worse about their NFC West chances if future Hall of Fame perennial All-Pro defensive tackle Aaron Donald opts to come out of retirement; rumors of which are apparently closer to becoming true rather than false.
Should Donald ultimately return to L.A.'s ranks to play alongside Garrett and chase another Super Bowl ring, there's one thing San Francisco must do.
Get on the phone and call Donald's kryptonite, offensive lineman Daniel Brunskill.
Brunskill, age 32, remains a free agent after spending last season with the Miami Dolphins, primarily in a reserve role. Yet 49ers fans will remember his heyday years donning the red and gold as a versatile and starting-caliber lineman, primarily 2020 through 2022. And during those campaigns, for reasons nearly every fan cannot explain, Brunskill regularly shut Donald down and limited his in-game impact.
Seriously, why Brunskill regularly held his own against arguably the best interior defensive lineman in recent memory is a mystery. But it was the case when the Niners and Rams squared off twice a year.
49ers should at least 'kick tires' on Daniel Brunskill for Aaron Donald's sake
Sure, Brunskill might've been on the decline in recent years, and there are reasons why San Francisco ultimately opted to let him walk in 2023 as a free agent. Plus, the 49ers' desire to get younger and more athletic on their offensive line remains a need, and the plus-30 Brunskill doesn't exactly fit the mold.
That said, the Niners still have a major question mark at left guard where Robert Jones, Connor Colby and rookie Carver Willis are battling it out for first-team duties—neither appears to be a top-end favorite at this point.
Brunskill, at least for his versatility and experience against Donald, is surely worth a look entering training camp. And if Los Angeles ultimately opts to bring the fearsome defender back out from retirement, at least San Francisco would have an option to respond with its own addition.
If for no other reason than to help negate the NFC West arms race with someone who regularly held Donald in check.
Add us as a preferred source on Google