2018 NFL Redraft: Lamar Jackson saves the Cleveland Browns
By Samuel Teets
9. San Francisco 49ers: Orlando Brown, OT (Mike McGlinchey, OT)
The 49ers knew they needed a right tackle in 2018, so they selected Notre Dame’s Mike McGlinchey with the ninth overall pick. While McGlinchey turned into a reliable starter who could make the Pro Bowl if he continues progressing, Brown is already at a Pro Bowl level.
Brown put together a stellar career at Oklahoma, earning a Consensus All-American selection in his final collegiate season. However, he fell to the third round in 2018 because of concerns about his conditioning, bend and fluidity. Brown also suffered from a poor combine performance.
NFL teams already knew Brown probably couldn’t play left tackle in the league as he had at Oklahoma, but concerns about his game grew in the weeks leading up to the draft. So, Brown slid from being a borderline first-round selection to the 83rd overall pick, where the Baltimore Ravens scooped him up.
As a rookie, Brown split starting time with veteran James Hurst. Brown took over as the full-time starter in 2019 and flourished in Baltimore’s run-heavy offense. The 49ers also emphasize the ground game as the most significant part of their offensive scheme, which means Brown would fit in with the 49ers.
Brown is the same height as McGlinchey (6-8), but he weighs 30 pounds more (345 pounds total). The mauling right tackle heads to San Francisco in the 2018 NFL Redraft.