49ers Draft: Instant Offensive Line

Tom Jensen | Mar 24, 2024

Ball State v Georgia / Brandon Sloter/GettyImages

In 1980, the 49ers ranked next to last in the league in passing yards and touchdowns against. To fix that, Bill Walsh and John McVay drafted Hall of Fame DB Ronnie Lott, took one of the most underrated Niners of all-time in DB Eric Wright, and safety Carlton Williamson with three of their first four picks. Instant secondary, and a foundation of the Niners success in the ‘80s.

Fast forward to 2024. Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch have a right side of the offensive line to fix and the best OL draft in at least 15 years. Could history repeat itself? Could Shanahan and Lynch take a page from Walsh and McVay to build an instant offensive line in one draft? It’s unlikely they would consider it, but this column takes a look at three scenarios.

Trading Up

This draft will set a record for the most offensive tackles selected in the first round, it could have as many as nine. The first six are all capable of starting immediately, and all capable of taking over at left tackle for Trent Williams in two years.

Joe Alt and Taliese Fuaga are top 12 and out of the Niners’ reach. If any of the remaining four fall to 20, the Niners could deal their first two picks to move up, or deal Brandon Aiyuk, but they’re unlikely moves.

The hope is that one of the four falls to 26-28. Then a more palatable move up with the first and a 3rd or 4th round pick could land the franchise tackle still on the board among J.C. Latham, Troy Fautanu, Olu Fashanu, or Amarius Mims.

Mims is my primary draft crush. Detractors point to just eight games played, but after he had the tightrope surgery on his ankle Mims played well. For a 6-8/340 tackle he plays with exceptional knee bend and low leverage, is consistently first to the point of attack, plays violently with massive 11+ hands and 36+ arms, and is a phenomenal athlete running a 5.07 40 at his size. Anyone questioning Mims needs to watch his tape against Ohio State in 2022.

NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein projects that Mims will be selected from 20 to 28 in the draft due to the limited number of games played and injury concerns. That puts him within reach of a Niner trade up.

Standing Pat

If the Niners choose to let the draft fall to them at 31, the focus may shift to center and Duke’s Graham Barton, who was a tackle this year but has played every position on the line. The consensus is his best position in the league is at center and some analysts believe he has All-Pro potential.

The top three centers are Oregon’s Jackson Powers-Johnson, projected for 20-26, Barton 24-31, and West Virginia’s Zach Frazier 31-40.

At tackle after the six day-one starters and Barton, the next two are polarizing. Oklahoma’s Tyler Guyton (26-40) has the size at 6-8/322 and moves well in the run game, but lacks strength, technique, and polish. Consensus holds that he’s raw and that the Niners would likely redshirt him, which is not what they’d want from their first-round pick in a Super Bowl contention year.

Arizona’s Jordan Morgan (31-40) is expected to be there at 31, the question is if Shanahan would value him given that Morgan is more developed as a pass protector than run blocker.  The Niners did have a formal interview with him in Indy, so they are kicking the tires.

Trading Back

Teams looking at quarterback that want the extra contract year of a first rounder may be interested in 31. For example, New England has pick 34 and can add 137 (top of the 5th) while the Niners take Frazier, UConn guard/center Christian Haynes, or Morgan.

OL by Draft Range

Applying a scheme fit filter, here are players in their projected draft ranges. The top three centers would require the 31st pick possibly in trade and then there’s a drop-off. Guard and tackle are deeper classes. The ranges can be used to plot a variety of mock drafts. The players I like for their skill profile and value at the projected draft slot are bolded.

CENTER: JPJ (20-26), Barton (24-31), Frazier (33-42), Limmer (Ark early 3rd), Bortolini (Wis mid-3rd), Van Pran (GA mid-3rd), Nourzad (Penn St mid-4th), Hudson (L’ville 5th), Turner (LSU 6th), Eguakan (Fla – 6th/7th).

I wouldn’t trade up for Powers-Johnson with Barton and Frazier available. Nourzad could go late 3rd but most projections have him in the early-to-mid 4th, if so, the Niners would need to move up from 124 to assure they get him.

GUARD: Haynes (50-68) G/C, Mahogany (BC 75-90), McCormick (SD St early-to-mid 3rd), Puni (Kansas 65-75), Zinter (MI early 4th), Adams (IL 5th), Jones (MI 6th), Laumea (UT 6th), Monk (Duke 6th).

Haynes is rising on big boards and could be a Niner consideration in a trade out of 31. He’s an excellent scheme fit, and his potential at center shown at Mobile indicates he can take over for Jake Brendel down the road. Mahogany has inside power and outside feet. McCormick is rising. Laumea and Monk are getting buzz as late sleepers. Monk ran the fastest IOL 10 at Indy.

TACKLE: Mims (20-28), Guyton (26-35), Morgan (31-40), Suamataia (33-40), Paul (40-55), Amegadjie (68-80), Rosengarten (UW early-to-mid 3rd), Greenfield (SD St late 3rd-early 4th), Fisher (ND late 3rd-early 4th), Goncalves (Pitt late 3rd-early 4th), Jones (TX 4th), Foster (MO 5th), Glaze (MD 6th), Grable (UCF 7th).

Mims is one of the best athletes in the draft and a potential All-Pro. Guyton and Paul are too raw, I see Morgan and Suamataia as picking a tackle to pick a tackle and view them as right tackles in the NFL. I’d rather have Barton, Haynes, or Frazier if the first pick is OL at 31 or later.

The depth from the 3rd round on is quality. Rosengarten is getting attention, Greenfield has solid tools, Fisher is exceptionally smart, Goncalves and Glaze have the feet and balance for the scheme. Grable is a late ball of clay pick, a converted QB with great speed and agility who tested well at Indy. He needs to power up and learn the position.