Are 49ers offensive line concerns warranted?

Any discussion of the 49ers offense usually revolves around the skill position players. That’s understandable when you consider the franchise’s glory days featured back-to-back Hall of Fame quarterbacks in Joe Montana and Steve Young. Wide receivers such as Dwight Clark, Freddy Solomon, Jerry Rice, John Taylor, and Terrell Owens were on the outside. In the backfield were explosive running backs like Roger Craig and Ricky Watters.

The current team’s discussion is about how the 49ers offense will be unstoppable with weapons like Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, George Kittle, and Trey Lance delivering the ball. Throw in Kyle Shanahan calling the plays, and it is not fair for the rest of the league.

Often overlooked in these discussions is the role the offensive line plays in any offense’s success.

San Francisco lost left guard Laken Tomlinson to the New York Jets in free agency. Meanwhile, right tackle Mike McGlinchey is recuperating from a torn tendon in his right quad, leaving his status in doubt. These have led to plenty of concern around this group heading into 2022.

Is the concern warranted? Yes and no.

Trent Williams will return at left tackle, and Alex Mack is expected to be back at center. Both veterans reached the Pro Bowl following the 2021 season.

The team has also tendered right guard Daniel Brunskill with a contract, and he is also expected to return.

San Francisco has starting-caliber depth across the offensive line.

Colton McKivitz started at left tackle in the 49ers week 18 victory over Los Angeles to reach the playoffs. Justin Skule started multiple games for the 49ers at left tackle in place of Joe Staley during 2019.

In addition to the veterans, Jaylon Moore started games at both left and right tackle during his rookie season.

The 49ers expect big things from Moore and fellow 2021 draft class member Aaron Banks.

Speaking at the NFL owners meetings on Tuesday, head coach Kyle Shanahan noted Banks is ready to step into the starting lineup in 2022.

“The way that he finished last year, he was ready to go,” Shanahan told reporters. “We almost made a move and put him in, but we kind of went on a win streak and were jelling as a team. If you’d asked me halfway through if he was going to be playing, I would’ve said, ‘Yes.’ And then things started clicking for our team, and we didn’t want to mess it up. But he’s ready to go.”

San Francisco still has work to do with building out its offensive line. With Alex Mack likely entering his final season, expect the team to go after his replacement in the draft. Making a move now allows the rookie a year to sit and learn like what the team did last year with Banks.

A few names to keep your eye on throughout the draft process include Cam Jurgens from Nebraska, Alec Lidstrom from Boston College, and Luke Fortner from Kentucky.