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San Francisco 49ers: Ranking positional needs for 2019 NFL Draft

By Nicholas McGee

HOUSTON, TX - DECEMBER 10: Head coach Kyle Shanahan of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates with general manager John Lynch after the game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium on December 10, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - DECEMBER 10: Head coach Kyle Shanahan of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates with general manager John Lynch after the game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium on December 10, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – JANUARY 08: Jonah Williams #73 of the Alabama Crimson Tide is helped off the field after an injury during the third quarter against the Georgia Bulldogs in the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 8, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – JANUARY 08: Jonah Williams #73 of the Alabama Crimson Tide is helped off the field after an injury during the third quarter against the Georgia Bulldogs in the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 8, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

4. Tackle

San Francisco’s offensive line has been one of the best in football through five weeks and, given the other needs on the roster, fans would likely take a dim view of the 49ers spending another top pick on this position after selecting Mike McGlinchey ninth overall this year.

Yet the 49ers do need to groom a replacement for Joe Staley, or somebody to fill in at right tackle were McGlinchey to switch sides in the event of Staley’s career coming to an end. Staley is enjoying another largely impressive season but is 34, will be on the last year of his contract in 2019 and has battled knee injuries this season.

The prospect of the Niners using another top pick on a tackle seems unlikely but, were they to trade down from what could be a top-five slot to collect more picks, a Staley replacement may well be something they look to find with the extra ammunition. The 49ers have depth issues up front, so look for them to potentially upgrade their backup situation at tackle in the mid to late rounds if they do not seek a Staley successor earlier on.

Names to know:

Alabama’s Jonah Williams is the consensus top tackle in the minds of most draftniks. West Virginia’s Yodny Cajuste, Wisconsin’s David Edwards and Dalton Risner of Kansas State could be potential targets if the 49ers collected another pick in the first round, the latter offering positional versatility they crave, being capable of playing both tackle and guard.