State of the 49ers, OL: Progress made, but even more investment is necessary (2024)

The NFL Scouting Combine is approaching, and the new league year — along with free agency — begins shortly after that. With that in mind, writers Matt Barrows and David Lombardi ofThe Athleticareteaming up for an eight-part series leading to the combine that looks at every aspect of the 49ers roster. Next up: offensive line.

Season in review

The 2022 offseason began with all sorts of hand-wringing about the offensive line. How could the 49ers possibly allow Laken Tomlinson to leave in free agency? Did coaches really think little-known Jake Brendel could take over for Pro Bowler Alex Mack at center? And most of all, was guard Aaron Banks — who played exactly five snaps as a rookie in 2021 — a bust?

The concerns proved to be largely unfounded.

The 49ers didn’t have a strong offensive line to open the season. But by the end, Brendel, Banks and fourth-round draft pick Spencer Burford had gained experience and were playing just as well — if not a little better — than the previous year’s unit.

The overall health of the line was key. Trent Williams missed three starts while Banks and Burford missed one each. Otherwise, the line stayed intact, a far cry from the 2021 season when backup guard Tom Compton started 10 games in place of Mike McGlinchey at right tackle and Williams dealt with elbow and ankle issues late in the season and during the playoffs.

The line’s maturation seemed to coincide with Christian McCaffrey’s understanding of the offense. Early on, for example, the 49ers struggled to execute the wide-zone runs that are a staple of Kyle Shanahan’s system. By season’s end, the running back, who arrived in mid-October, and the line had congealed, and McCaffrey surpassed 100 rushing yards in four of the last eight games.

Burford was one game shy of joining McGlinchey and Fred Warner as the only 49ers to start every game of their rookie season in the Shanahan era. Burford, who had played tackle at UTSA, alternated series with veteran Daniel Brunskill. But the rookie played well when he was on the field and appears to be the most physically gifted right guard the 49ers have had since Shanahan arrived in 2017.

Brendel and Banks also eased the offseason worries about them. Brendel started all 20 games and compared well to Mack, who retired after the 2021 season. Banks, meanwhile, was the team’s most imposing interior blocker and excelled on gap-style blocks around the goal line.

Banks surrendered just two sacks in 20 games, though the 35 quarterback pressures he allowed were second only to McGlinchey’s 36, per Pro Football Focus. — Barrows

By the numbers

At the conclusion of the regular season, the 49ers ranked No. 5 in Pro Football Focus’ cumulative pass-blocking efficiency, by far their best finish in that metric during Shanahan’s tenure. But their performance slipped to No. 8 when the playoffs were included. It’s easy to see why. The postseason featured consecutive games against Dallas and Philadelphia, the NFL’s top-two pass rushes.

The 49ers allowed profuse pressure against both the Cowboys and Eagles. It seems fair to say, then, that while their pass protection took major strides, it still has work to do before it is a true title-caliber unit. The Chiefs, who finished No. 1 in ESPN’s pass-block win rate by a wide margin, provided a benchmark for the 49ers to strive toward when they prevented Philadelphia from notching a sack in the Super Bowl.

So, where can the 49ers improve? Their individual splits in pass-blocking efficiency (a metric that combines sacks, pressures and QB hits allowed) and PFF run-blocking grade are charted below:

Williams, with the No. 1 run-blocking grade in the NFL to go along with excellent pass-blocking efficiency, is very possibly the best O-lineman in football. Meanwhile, Brendel ranked No. 3 of all centers in pass-blocking efficiency. The 49ers also enjoyed above-average pass protection from McGlinchey and Brunskill, while Banks and Burford — despite their worse efficiency — gave up only six combined sacks. That wasn’t a catastrophic number.

In general, 49ers’ quarterbacks had a fighting chance against pressure this season, and that was reflected in each player’s good sack rate (the NFL average is 6.7 percent, and the trio of Trey Lance, Jimmy Garoppolo and Brock Purdy managed sack rates lower than that behind this O-line).

49ers QB sack rate:

2017
Hoyer: 7.0%
Beathard: 7.8%
Garoppolo: 4.3%

2018
Garoppolo: 12.7%
Beathard: 9.6%
Mullens: 5.8%

See Also

Has the 49ers' offense surpassed the defense as the team's signature unit?

2019
Garoppolo: 7.0%

2020
Garoppolo: 7.3%
Mullens: 5.5%
Beathard: 8.0%

2021
Lance : 5.3%
Garoppolo: 6.2%

2022
Lance: 6.1%
Garoppolo: 5.5%
Purdy: 6.1%

— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) February 14, 2023

As far as the run game’s elevation, the midseason addition of McCaffrey was indeed instrumental. The 49ers went from No. 26 to No. 3 in run offense DVOA before and after trading for the star running back. But most of their improvement didn’t come at the snap of the finger.

The O-line had to grow over time, and the offense’s impressive final metrics indicate that it did. The struggles against top-tier pass rushes in the playoffs, though, do verify that some work is still necessary. — Lombardi

Offseason plan

Perhaps more than any other recent first-round pick, McGlinchey has made the South Bay his home. He’s stuck around throughout the offseasons, he’s worked out exclusively at the team facility, and his future wife — the wedding is scheduled for July — is from San Jose.

Still, he made it clear there will be no hometown discount.

“You can’t be an idiot about it,” he said of hitting free agency. “I understand what my value is. I think (the 49ers) do, too. I hope the rest of the league will when the time comes.”

Should McGlinchey leave — perhaps to one of the three teams now led by a former 49ers assistant — figuring out his replacement at right tackle becomes priority No. 1 on the offensive line.

When the season ended, Jaylon Moore was Williams’ backup at left tackle while Colton McKivitz was McGlinchey’s understudy on the right side. McKivitz is scheduled to be a restricted free agent next month. If he becomes McGlinchey’s 2023 replacement, the team could consider a long-term deal in order to avoid being in the same predicament next year.

Brendel and Brunskill, meanwhile, are scheduled to be unrestricted free agents. Brendel is the priority, and no one is quite sure what his market will look like. On one hand, Shanahan places a lot of value in his team’s center, and Brendel was better than expected in his first season as a starter. On the other, he’ll be 31 at the start of the upcoming season, making him the 49ers’ third oldest offensive player behind Williams and fullback Kyle Juszczyk.

If Brendel isn’t re-signed, it would put an emphasis on re-signing Brunskill, the backup center this past season. In that scenario, Brunskill likely would take over at center with 2022 draft pick Nick Zakelj — and possibly scout-team standout Jason Poe — on standby as his backup.

Kyle Shanahan gave OL Jason Poe this special helmet for being one of the #49ers’ scout team players of the year (offense). pic.twitter.com/FkuobpskiL

— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) January 27, 2023

If Brendel is re-signed, Brunskill seems expendable. Burford, after all, is the future starter at right guard while Zakelj is expected to take over Brunskill’s role as the top backup at guard and center. —Barrows

2023 outlook

Consider the turnaround of Kansas City’s offensive line.

In the February 2021 Super Bowl, Tampa Bay completely overwhelmed a depleted Chiefs’ front. Patrick Mahomes couldn’t even lead the offense to a touchdown. This past Sunday, Kansas City didn’t allow a sack to a Philadelphia D-line that had racked up 78 of those entering the Super Bowl.

Can the 49ers continue elevating their O-line to approach the Chiefs’ level? That might be a big part of what it’d take for Shanahan to win a Super Bowl.

Now, the 49ers have already made large investments and significant strides up front. It’s about the work that lies ahead, and this offseason undoubtedly represents what could become a tricky crossroads. Expectations for the tandem of Williams and Banks on the left side are simple enough, but the future of the center, right guard and right tackle trio represents a major hinge point for the 49ers moving forward.

Can they maintain the stability that Mack and Brendel have brought the center position over the past two seasons? Can they navigate McGlinchey’s pending free agency to remain steady — or even improve — at right tackle? Can position coach Chris Foerster shepherd Burford into a legitimate second-year jump?

Affirmative answers to those questions would put the 49ers in a good spot next season. But these questions remain, and they’re critical ones. Improved health for the 49ers’ quarterback position, which is mandatory given the injury carnage the 49ers have seen there during the Shanahan era, might be at stake.

And that’s reason enough for Shanahan and general manager John Lynch to continue pouring resources into the offensive line this offseason. — Lombardi

(Top photo of Jake Brendel: Douglas Stringer / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)