Will the 49ers Draft an Offensive Tackle in Round 1?

The last time the 49ers thought they had a franchise quarterback, they gave Jimmy Garoppolo $137.5 million and drafted offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey with a first-round pick a few months later. Because when a team makes a big investment at the most important position, it also must protect that investment with an offensive line.

Of course, McGlinchey didn't turn out to be the player the 49ers thought he'd be, and so they never offered him a second contract. But they still saw fit to invest in the right tackle position after paying their quarterback.

Cut to the present. The 49ers now have Brock Purdy, who's objectively better than Garoppolo ever was. And the 49ers need a right tackle, considering their starter, Colton McKivitz, is merely serviceable. So will they do what they did six years ago and draft a right tackle in Round 1?

Why not?

Technically the 49ers haven't given Purdy a massive contract extension yet, but they almost certainly will. They clearly hope he earns it. So why not protect him now? Why not give him the best chance to succeed?

This year's draft has an outstanding class of offensive tackles -- the 49ers almost surely could take one at pick No. 31 who's better than McGlinchey, who was the 10th pick in the 2018 Draft. The 49ers can't pass up the opportunity to add a potential franchise offensive tackle so late in Round 1. They may not have the opportunity again in the future. And if they neglect the offensive line yet again this season and Purdy gets injured, they'll only have themselves to blame.