San Francisco 49ers: Dohnovan West, IOL, Arizona State
The San Franciso 49ers had one of the better centers in the NFL last season in Alex Mack. However, Mack recently announced his retirement which likely puts Jake Brendel in the starting role for Kyle Shanahan’s offense.
As for who will take Brendel’s spot as the backup, that could be Dohnovan West, an undrafted free agent from Arizona State.
West was another UDFA who many thought would be drafted. He’s an experienced three-year starter who plays with a lot of energy — but it’s a controlled energy. He’s also technically sound and knows how to properly use his hands.
As for his cons, he’s listed at just 296-pounds and there are times he can be overpowered due to his size. He also might only be able to play one position in the pros.
At ASU, West was a center but also played well at guard. In the NFL, that won’t be as easy since he will end up matched up against much more powerful players in the pros at that position.
Having said all of that, West has the smarts to be a starter in the NFL one day. Should the Niners release him, there would be teams willing to bring him in. That’s why he likely stays in San Francisco and serves as the backup center for a year or two before getting a shot at fighting for the No. 1 spot.