The Weakest Link on the 49ers Offensive Line

So many options.

The 49ers offensive line arguably is the weakest position group on the team. If you had to pick one player on it, who would be the weakest link?

My first answer would be right tackle Colton McKivitz. Last year was his first season as a starer, and he gave up 13 sacks -- tops in the league among right tackles. He was a decent run blocker, but he was a liability in pass protection who often required the assistance of George Kittle or Kyle Juszczyk or both.

But this offseason, the 49ers gave McKivitz a one-year extension through 2025, so clearly they don't feel he's the weakest link. They must really think he's a good right tackle even though he obviously isn't.

So McKivitz is signed through 2025, while center Jake Brendel and left tackle Trent Williams are signed through 2026. Those three players are the core of the offensive line. Aaron Banks and Jon Feliciano -- the two starting guards -- both will be free agents after this season. So those are the two offensive linemen the 49ers deem expendable.

The 49ers just re-signed Felicano to a one-year deal worth $2.2 million, so the 49ers must like him a little bit, but probably because he's just about the cheapest veteran starter they could find at a position they don't value.

Banks was the 49ers' second-round pick in 2020, so they have high hopes for him, and he certainly is an ascending young player. But good young guards get paid lots of money in free agency these days, so don't expect the 49ers to re-sign Banks after this season. They'd be more likely to re-sign Feliciano, who is the weakest link on the offensive line, simply because he's affordable.