San Francisco 49ers should consider trade down for offensive linemen

The versatility of the top offensive linemen in the 2018 draft class means the San Francisco 49ers should consider trading down to draft two with their first two picks.

The San Francisco 49ers addressed one of their biggest deficiencies in free agency as they added to the interior of the offensive line. But going into the 2018 NFL Draft, it is an area that should remain one of the focus despite recent additions.

Weston Richburg was brought in to be the the Niners’ starting center, his athleticism and overall skill set putting him in a good position to succeed in the Kyle Shanahan offense, while Jonathan Cooper brings a veteran presence at guard.

Yet there are two reasons why the 49ers must look to further strengthen their resources on the interior line. The first being the continued influx of talent on the Los Angeles Rams defense, with Ndamakong Suh forming a fearsome defensive tackle partnership with Aaron Donald. And the second being the lack of clarity that remains over who will fill the guard spots for San Francisco.

Though Cooper figures to be a serviceable addition, the Niners are still low on proven talent at guard. Daniel Kilgore, who has the ability both center and guard, was traded to the Miami Dolphins following Richburg’s arrival, while Laken Tomlinson had a decent season but received an average 70.7 grade from Pro Football Focus Edge, ranking 32nd among qualifying guards.

Joshua Garnett spent last season on injured reserve but has dropped his weight to around 300 pounds, per Niners Nation, to improve his hopes of adapting to the zone-blocking scheme employed in the Shanahan system, but there is by no means any guarantee he will be a fit. And, given the abundance of offensive line talent in this class, the 2018 draft could well be one where the 49ers look to replicate the direction taken in 2010, when the Niners used each of their first-round picks on offensive linemen, selecting Anthony Davis and Mike Iupati.

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The 49ers did not reap the benefits of those selections in Davis and Iupati’s rookie year but they each became foundational pieces on an offensive line that perhaps did not get as much credit for San Francisco’s ascension under Jim Harbaugh as it deserved. Of course the Niners do not have the luxury of two first-round picks this time around, but the talent and versatility of the offensive line prospects in this class means trading out of the ninth overall pick to acquire extra selections and then using their first two picks on the O-line is something they should certainly consider.

Versatility is something San Francisco should value highly among offensive linemen. Ideally you want continuity up front but the Niners know only too well the importance of having players who can operate at more than one position on the O-line, with the versatility of both Erik Magnuson and Zane Beadles proving a significant asset when injuries hit hard in 2017.

But the fact there are prospects such as Isaiah Wynn of Georgia and Connor Williams of Texas, who can play guard and tackle, should also intrigue the 49ers because of their lack of long-term answers at the latter position.

Joe Staley has been the definition of consistency at left tackle and has frequently spoken of his desire to play his entire career with the Niners. Yet at 33 there remains a question of how long he can keep playing at an elite level. It, therefore, makes sense for the 49ers to draft a replacement, particularly with right tackle Trent Brown — slated by many to be the natural successor at left tackle — having struggled with shoulder issues.

Both Wynn and Williams have shown enough promise to suggest they can be long-term replacements at that position, while the former’s ability to pull and get to the second level also make him an ideal fit for the zone-blocking scheme as a guard.

Having played in a zone-blocking scheme at Iowa, center James Daniels is reportedly a player on the Niners’ radar even after signing Richburg, with his versatility in also possessing a skill set to excel at guard likely behind his scheduled pre-draft visit with San Francisco, which was reported by Hawkeye Nation’s Rob Howe.

Daniels would give the 49ers a top young talent to fill one of the guard spots and quality insurance at center and, were San Francisco able to acquire him and another multifaceted lineman like Wynn or Williams, then the Niners would have the makings of a potentially dominant line.

The depth in this O-line class means prospects such as Notre Dame tackle Mike McGlinchey and UTEP guard Will Hernandez could well be available in the second round. It may be more realistic for the 49ers to target one of McGlinchey or Hernandez in the second round rather than trying to draft both Daniels and Wynn or Williams.

But, with the Niners’ second pick coming 50 selections after their first, a trade to acquire more choices is the 49ers’ best route to acquiring two of the top linemen should they decide that is the route they wish to go.

It may require a quarterback-needy team to have a strong enough opinion of Lamar Jackson or Mason Rudolph for a trade down for extra selections to be possible, with Sam Darnold, Josh Rosen, Josh Allen and Baker Mayfield all likely off the board by the ninth pick.

However, San Francisco profited from a similar trade at a higher spot last year when the Niners were able to acquire extra capital in a deal with the Chicago Bears.

Next: 2018 NFL Mock Draft: Full 7-round projection

Other positions such as edge rusher also need to be firmly on their radar but, should another trade-down opportunity present itself this time around, then the 49ers would be wise to take it with a view to adding multiple versatile linemen and building a front that can set them up for success in both the short and long term.