The San Francisco 49ers had another polarizing draft this offseason, with analysts varying in their evaluation of the team’s draft class. Heading into the draft with only a few needs, the 49ers addressed wide receiver, edge rusher, running back, and defensive tackle with their first four picks, adding needed depth at each position.
There was a notable position that the 49ers didn’t address in those first few rounds: offensive line. San Francisco did end up taking two linemen in the class, selecting Washington’s Carver Willis with the No. 127 overall pick and Kansas’s Enrique Cruz Jr. at No. 179.
Both players were tackles in college and will likely kick inside at the next level, with Willis projecting as a guard or a center and Cruz projecting as a guard. While both will get their chance to make the roster, neither seems like a frontrunner to compete for a starting spot this offseason.
That leaves the question mark at left guard still remaining. Earlier in the offseason, general manager John Lynch said that the team did want to add more competition at left guard, suggesting they’d do it in the draft. But, with how the cards fell there, perhaps that might need to be addressed in free agency now.
We could see the free agent market start to pick up next week, as teams won’t be penalized in the compensatory formula for signing players following May 1st. And there are a few offensive linemen who could fit the 49ers well.
One notable name? Veteran offensive guard Kevin Zeitler, who played last season with the Tennessee Titans and has 14 years of NFL experience overall.
Pinpointing the best fits for current free agents, NFL.com’s Matt Okada linked Zeitler to the 49ers, seeing him as a clear upgrade at left guard.
“The 49ers won seven of their last nine games in 2025, including the playoffs. The only two losses: against Seattle in Week 18 and against Seattle in the Divisional Round. You know, that 41-6 shellacking in which the ‘Hawks pressured Brock Purdy on 39.4 percent of his dropbacks,” Okada wrote.
“This offseason, San Francisco lost starting guard Spencer Burford in free agency, so an upgrade on the interior feels important. Zeitler, a 14-year veteran, earned a top-15 overall PFF grade among guards in each of the last two season and is the only still-available guard from Rosenthal’s Top 101. At 36 years old, Zeitler is likely headed for another one-year contract, but the Niners are contenders with a need — and $44.9 million in cap space — so it makes a lot of sense. Unless they’re comfortable rocking with Dominick Puni and Connor Colby as their starters, Zeitler is a no-brainer add.”
The 49ers have ample cap space and could very well add a player like Zeitler on a one-year deal without being affected by the compensatory formula starting next week. Now, Zeitler will be 36, but he doesn’t have durability issues. He’s played in at least 15 games in every season since 2015.
He will be moving positions from his natural spot of right guard, but should get a great opportunity to start in San Francisco on a contender with a chance for a championship. Feels like a win-win for both sides.
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