49ers meet with "sleeper" draft prospect
The San Francisco 49ers offense is one of the NFL's most unique and effective offenses and a lot of the success is predicated up on the performance of the offensive line. So it makes all the sense in the world for the 49ers to constantly scout the position. I mean, it's always a good decision […]
The San Francisco 49ers offense is one of the NFL's most unique and effective offenses and a lot of the success is predicated up on the performance of the offensive line.
So it makes all the sense in the world for the 49ers to constantly scout the position. I mean, it's always a good decision due to the importance of the trenches. It's just refreshing to see teams put in an emphatic effort to make sure everything is analyzed properly.
Per The Draft Network's Justin Melo, the 49ers scheduled a top-30 visit with former UCLA Bruins interior offensive lineman Atonio Mafi. Per TDN's Ryan Fowler, Mafi is considered "a sleeper" in the 2023 NFL Draft.
A to Z Sports' draft analyst, Tyler Browning provided the following on Mafi as a prospect:
Mafi is raw as a pass protector. His feet can stall out as he makes contact. He's a converted defensive linemen, however, so he knows the importance of hand placement. A force in the run game, he takes pride in burying defenders. Mafi is new to the position, but has enticing flashes that are worthy of a mid-round selection. – A to Z Sports' Tyler Browning
Mafi is projected to be a guard. The 49ers have 2022 starters Aaron Banks and Spencer Burford under contract for the next couple of seasons and they also added Jon Feliciano in free agency. Banks and Burford didn't play very well in 2022, however, and the Tennessee Titans signed away Daniel Brunskill in free agency.
So, it makes sense that the 49ers are meeting with mid-round guys. Mafi could come in and continue to development and eventually push one of the aforementioned guys for playing time hopefully in 2023. But if not this year, in 2024, at the latest.
