49ers Trade Up for an Offensive Tackle in Lastest Mock Draft

Finally, a mock draft that makes sense for the 49ers.

All offseason, the draft gurus have been projecting the 49ers to draft a defensive lineman in Round 1 even though the 49ers spent free agency adding four players to that position. They've already addressed it. Spending their first pick on another defensive lineman would be overkill.

NFL.com's Chad Reuter gets it. That's why he has the 49ers trading up with the Miami Dolphins for pick no. 21 to take Oregon State offensive tackle Taliese Fuagau. "I believe one of the top offensive tackles will drop outside the top 20," Reuter wrote, "and Fuaga’s incomplete workout numbers, along with some teams projecting him as a guard, might make him the odd man out. Miami needs mid-round picks, so the 49ers send late third- and fourth- round selections (getting back a sixth-round pick in the exchange) to secure an immediate starter on the right side of the line."

The logic behind the trade-up is sound. The question is whether Fuaga would fit the 49ers' offensive system. Typically, Kyle Shanahan wants the right side of his offensive line to be light and agile -- no more than 310 pounds. But those light offensive linemen have gotten bullied in the playoffs year after year. Perhaps Shanahan realizes the need to acquire more size on that side of the offensive line.

Starting right guard Jon Feliciano is 325 pounds, which is a departure from what the 49ers typically want at that position. And Fuagua is 325 pounds as well. So perhaps the 49ers intend to get bigger and strong on the right side of the offensive line.

It couldn't hurt.