San Francisco 49ers showing significant interest in addressing key need with intriguing Michigan sleeper
It's widely accepted the San Francisco 49ers need to address the offensive line in the 2024 NFL Draft after losing Super Bowl 58 in large part because of the struggles of the right side of their front. But the 49ers doing so early in the draft is far from a guarantee. Only once under Kyle […]
It's widely accepted the San Francisco 49ers need to address the offensive line in the 2024 NFL Draft after losing Super Bowl 58 in large part because of the struggles of the right side of their front.
But the 49ers doing so early in the draft is far from a guarantee.
Only once under Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch have the 49ers spent a first-round pick on an offensive lineman, doing so in 2018 when taking tackle Mike McGlinchey ninth overall. As such, there's every chance the 49ers wait until much later in the draft and take developmental depth options rather than immediate starters at the right tackle and right guard spots that stand as clear needs for San Francisco.
And the 49ers are reportedly showing strong interest in one such developmental prospect with very high upside.
49ers have interest in Michigan OL Trente Jones
Per Sportskeeda's Tony Pauline, the 49ers are one of three teams to show a strong interest in Michigan tackle Trente Jones. The Atlanta Falcons and Kansas City Chiefs were also reported as being keen on a prospect with limited experience but intriguing tape.
Jones primarily served as the sixth offensive lineman for Michigan, but made 12 starts for the Wolverines at right tackle, including in the Big Ten championship Game and College Football Playoff Games with Alabama and Washington as they lifted the National Championship Trophy.
Under 6ft 4in with arms that measured in only the 12th percentile for offensive tackles, Jones is projected by many as an interior lineman at the next level who could even play center.
However, Pauline reported that teams see him as a tackle, and it's easy to see why the 49ers may be interested in developing him in that role when looking at his albeit limited tape.
Big-time potential
Jones wasn't a hugely impressive tester at the Combine, but his performances in the college football postseason revealed him to be a tackle who can win consistently because of his athletic abilities.
He gets into his pass set very quickly and displays efficient footwork to stay square with pass rushers. In the run game, Jones is smooth to the second level and quick and composed in climbing to the second level.
While the arm length issue does allow defenders to beat him to the punch, Jones displays impressive play strength and excels at maintaining contact when he gets his hands locked onto his opponent. More importantly, he has a sturdy lower half and plays with a consistently wide base that allows him to anchor against bull rushes.
There are, of course, issues that mean Jones is likely to be available as late as day three. Jones can struggle against leveraged bull rushes through occasionally playing a little high and, while his footwork helps him protect against edge rushers turning the corner, he is regularly guilty of oversetting and exposing his inside shoulder.
Yet, per Pro Football Focus, Jones allowed only three pressures in 148 pass block snaps last season, ranking tied sixth in their pass blocking efficiency metric. He was tied with Houston's Patrick Paul, a potential day-two pick, with Amarius Mims of Georgia and Notre Dame's Joe Alt the only two likely first-rounders above him.
A prospect who plays with an obvious mean streak that the 49ers will love, along with an awareness that saw him constantly keep his head on a swivel and seek out extra work, there were more reps that ended with Jones' opponent being driven into the turf than plays that saw him give up a clean pass rush win.
Jones will undoubtedly have faced questions about why he was unable to crack the starting lineup at Michigan, while the frame is certainly a concern as he moves on to the highest level.
But there are no flaws in his game that aren't correctable. This is an extremely deep tackle class, with some tremendous talent at the very top. However, for a 49ers team that may miss out on those elite prospects picking at 31 in the first round, there's plenty of reason to view a later-round bet on the potential of Jones as a better option for long term.
