The 49ers chose to pick up 2016 first-round pick DeForest Buckner’s fifth-year option. They didn’t make the same move for their second Round 1 selection that year – Joshua Garnett. The 49ers traded up to No. 28 that year to snag the offensive lineman out of Stanford. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported Thursday that San Francisco wouldn’t exercise the fifth-year option afforded to first-round picks.
This doesn’t necessarily mean the former Stanford standout’s time in San Francisco is finished after the 2019 season. The door is still open for an extension, and they’ll have until the start of the 2020 league year to hammer out a multi-year deal if they want. The 49ers are simply opting to not fully guarantee something close to $10 million for a player who may or may not be a contributor on the offensive line.
As Pelissero notes, injuries have played a large role in limiting Garnett to 22 games in three seasons, including none in 2017 while he sat out the year nursing a knee injury. Garnett saw action in Week 1 last season but only played 14 snaps before a thumb injury sidelined him for several weeks.
The talent is there with Garnett, who underwent a body transformation to fit the demands of a more athletic offensive line in head coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense.
A fully healthy 2019 where Garnett wins a starting job in training camp would be a significant step toward the former first-round pick ensuring a long-term future with the 49ers. Another injury-riddled season as a reserve would further confirm why the team passed on his fifth-year option, and may spell the end of his time in red and gold.
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