49ers' training camp could lay the groundwork for short and long-term changes on offensive line
The San Francisco 49ers' offensive line continues to be the area of their stacked roster that attracts the most scrutiny. San Francisco did little to address a position group that was its downfall in the Super Bowl 58 defeat, keeping the O-Line as a top-heavy group with All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams supported by journeymen […]
The San Francisco 49ers' offensive line continues to be the area of their stacked roster that attracts the most scrutiny.
San Francisco did little to address a position group that was its downfall in the Super Bowl 58 defeat, keeping the O-Line as a top-heavy group with All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams supported by journeymen and day two and day-three picks.
Little focus will be on Williams when training camp starts properly on Tuesday. In the trenches, it is all about improvement from Williams' less experienced teammates up front.
There are several compelling storylines to watch in camp as the Niners look to coax that improvement out of the non-Williams linemen.
Could McKivitz have a challenger?
Though he signed a contract extension before a draft in which the 49ers elected against taking a tackle in either of the first two rounds, right tackle Colton McKivitz is probably the starting offensive lineman under the most pressure going into training camp.
McKivitz was the primary weak link up front for the 49ers last season as the starting right tackle. His 59 pressures allowed were tied for the most among tackles, per Pro Football Focus.
Though the 49ers did not add a draft pick at right tackle to the mix, they did sign two veterans with experience in the role in Chris Hubbard and Brandon Parker.
Hubbard saw his 2023 season with the Tennessee Titans cut short by injury but, per Sports Info Solutions, he was far more consistent as a blocker than McKivitz. He had a blown block rate of 3.4% in nine games in 2024. McKivitz, albeit on the sample size of a full season, had a blown block rate of 6.3%.
With 10 seasons unde this belt, the 49ers know Hubbard can be a steadying presence at right tackle. McKivitz was anything but last year, and it would be no surprise if Hubbard soon put him under pressure for the starting role.
Puni's uphill battle
Both the 49ers' top two picks, Ricky Pearsall and Renardo Green, appear well placed for significant roles as rookies after impressing in OTAs and mandatory minicamp.
Third-round pick Dominick Puni, however, has a substantially tougher road to playing significant snaps in 2024.
The 49ers see Puni as a player with five-position upside, but he is starting his career in the NFL at guard.
Puni's only hope of starting year one would be by winning a fight for the right guard job, with Jon Feliciano and Spencer Burford likely to be his competition.
Feliciano will be the favorite to start, with he and Burford both having an edge over Puni in regards to run blocking, which offensive line coach Chris Foerster identified as the former Kansas Jayhawk's weak spot.
It will take significant strides from Puni in that area if he is to overhaul both Feliciano and Burford. With under two months until the start of the regular season, he faces an extremely tricky challenge to successfully vault up the depth chart and into that role.
Bartch's big opportunity
Ben Bartch may not be in a position to start this year, but a strong camp could convince the 49ers to sign the former Jacksonville Jaguars interior lineman long term and give him a shot in 2025.
Bartch took first-team center reps in the offseason workout program with starter Jake Brendel and Feliciano on the sideline, the guard demonstrating versatility that the 49ers value highly.
That is significant because there is a world in which the 49ers have holes at both center and left guard next offseason. Starting left guard Aaron Banks is a 2025 free agent, while the Niners could save $3.7 million against the cap by moving on from Brendel and designating him as a June 1 cut.
An impressive camp and preseason from Bartch, a favorite of O-Line coach Foerster, may be enough to sway San Francisco away from making a push to re-sign Banks or push the Niners to decide to move on from Brendel in favor of the more affordable Bartch.
As such, Bartch has a significant opportunity ahead of him starting next week, though it may not be clear whether he took it until next offseason.
Brandon Aiyuk could be about to risk huge financial penalties to prove unhappiness with the 49ers
It would do huge damage to his wallet.
