One of the weak points of the 49ers offense last season was along the offensive line. In particular, the guard spots could be upgraded in 2018 to improve the running game and help balance the Jimmy Garoppolo-led offensive attack.
A popular NFL draft prospect for San Francisco has been Notre Dame guard Quenton Nelson, whom NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah pegged to the 49ers with the No. 9 pick in his first mock draft following the combine.
“The Niners opt for the best available player,” Jeremiah wrote.
Nelson (6-5, 329) is regarded as one of the best guard prospects in recent memory. He’s a dominant run blocker who’s equally as good in pass protection. The 49ers allowed 43 sacks, good for 10th-worst in the NFL in 2017. On the ground, they ranked 20th by rushing for 103.9 yards per game.
The 49ers recently brought back pending free agent center Daniel Kilgore on a three-year contract extension. Right guard Brandon Fusco is poised for free agency while left guard Laken Tomlinson, perhaps the least productive of the three, has a year remaining on his rookie contract after being a first-round selection of the Lions in 2015. He was added via trade Aug. 31.
The wild card of San Francisco’s O-Line is 2016 first-round draft choice Joshua Garnett, who struggled at during his rookie season and missed all of 2017 after knee surgery in August.
Garnett could have returned to the team later in the year, but coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch thought Garnett would be best served taking time to re-shape his body to see if he fits the zone-blocking scheme. Garnett played in a power-blocking scheme at Stanford.
Nelson would help solidify the future of San Francisco’s offensive line. But guards are rarely get taken within the first 10 picks. The 49ers would have to decide if adding Nelson is the best use of that premium draft choice despite needing help at more premium positions like cornerback, pass rusher and linebacker.
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