In the 2024 NFL Draft, the San Francisco 49ers selected eight players to fill a variety of requirements for the future and the present./cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73100452/1972025440.0.jpg)
The 49ers selected two offensive linemen from the group: Jarrett Kingston of USC, selected with the No. 215 selection in the sixth round, and Dominick Puni of Kansas, selected with the No. 86 pick in the third round.
San Francisco did not select an offensive lineman, a position the organization had carefully considered before the selection, instead choosing to target the interior.
The 49ers had alternatives in the first and second rounds, but they chose not to use them. Instead, they used their first two picks to address receiver and cornerback, then traded up to choose Puni in the third round.
What does San Francisco’s decision to pass up an offensive lineman signify for the future of the franchise at that position?
General manager John Lynch acknowledged the challenge of falling in love with an offensive tackle while picking at No. 31 in remarks to reporters following the selection.
“During the process, we examined a lot of guys. I think it’s frequently difficult to find a tackle that you truly love when you’re drafting 31st,” Lynch said on Saturday.
The 49ers also stuck to their position of being happy with their current tackles, Trent Williams (who has three years remaining on his deal) and Colton McKivitz (who received an offseason extension).
Lynch remarked, “We like our tackles as they are right now.” “With Jaylon Moore, a tremendously gifted player who can fill in as the swing player, we appreciate our depth. [USC OL Jarrett Kingston, drafted]; he can flex at tackle.
We’ll keep working to strengthen both our team’s depth and ourselves. However, we’re enthusiastic about our O-Line team. Although I am aware that many people discuss it, we are happy with our group.
The 49ers found themselves in an intriguing predicament on Friday in Round 2, as multiple tackles started to fall off the board as their decision started to inch closer.
Patrick Paul of Houston was selected by the Miami Dolphins at No. 55 to start the run. Then the Houston Texans did the same, selecting Blake Fisher of Notre Dame at No. 59. Ultimately, the Baltimore Ravens selected Washington’s Roger Rosengarten at No. 62, one selection ahead of the 49ers.
Kingsley Suamataia of BYU, however, was still available at No. 63. The 49ers, who moved down one position with the Kansas City Chiefs to select the lineman at No. 63, indicated that they were not as keen on the 6’5, 320-pound player.
Did one of the 49ers’ targets score a point before their position?
After Day 2 of the draft on Friday, Lynch said, “We had a group of players we liked; [Washington OL] Roger Rosengarten was one of them.” However, we were also aware of how at ease we were with Renardo. We could have added one or two more guys and still ended up with the guy we wanted; in fact, we were able to obtain the guy we really liked. Thus, that was enjoyable for us.
The Kansas City Chiefs were reportedly looking to move up in the second round for an offensive tackle after selecting Texas wideout Xavier Worthy in the first round. Lynch stated that San Francisco was unaware of the team’s selection; therefore, it was likely that Suamataia or another player at the position would be chosen.
San Francisco made a wise choice in selecting Green, as they appeared to prioritize the best player available over positional specialization. However, by selecting him at No. 64, the 49ers avoided selecting a tackle in a draft that was incredibly top-heavy at the position and had a considerable decline after the first few rounds.
Although the 49ers admitted that Roger Rosengarten was one of their favorite players, they did not attempt to broker a trade-up to get the player, which ultimately gave the Baltimore Ravens the opportunity to select him one pick ahead of San Francisco.
Two elements regarding San Francisco’s perception of their offensive line are shown by the manner in which they handled the draft: They hold greater esteem for their front five than most teams do, and they did not think highly of Kingsley Suamataia despite their pre-draft interest, which allowed the Chiefs to select him at No. 63 instead of taking him with a trade down.
Prospects for OL in the future
With Jarrett Kingston and Dominick Puni already in the fold and no offensive lineman selected in the 2024 NFL Draft, the 49ers have an exciting offensive line to look forward to.
After a trade-up with the Philadelphia Eagles, Puni was selected at No. 86. He should have competition at guard right away from Jon Feliciano and Spencer Burford, and depending on what San Francisco does with Aaron Banks—who becomes a free agent at the end of the season—he may end up being the team’s starting point at either guard position.
Kingston is also thought of as more of an interior man because of his remarkable athleticism, and in 2025, he might be more likely to compete.
However, with Trent Williams, who is into his 36th season and may very possibly retire at the end of the season, out of the picture, the 49ers are in a difficult situation at offensive tackle. Although Colton McKivitz has two more years left on his deal, San Francisco may eventually try to upgrade.
San Francisco might have competed for McKivitz this season and may have been the tackle of the future following Williams’ retirement if they had selected a lineman in this year’s draft.
With the extension of Colton McKivitz, they did, however, prepare for the chance that they might not choose a tackle by having a starter they are happy with for the next two years. The attention is now shifting to the tackle position for the upcoming offseason, where San Francisco might have some challenges as they almost certainly will be selecting in the same area as last time.
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