The San Francisco 49ers' offensive line has come in for significant criticism in 2024, and one of the members who has arguably attracted the most scrutiny heads into the final two games under unexpected pressure following a recent roster move.

Center Jake Brendel was something of a success story for the Niners, starting the entire season in 2022 and 2023 as the 49ers followed up a run to the NFC Championship Game with a surge to the Super Bowl.

Brendel has again been an ever-present this year but, as the Niners have endured a disappointing 2024 set to end in a losing season, his place in the team has received significant questioning.

The former UCLA Bruin ranks 41st of 45 centers with at least 100 pass block snaps in pass block grade, per Pro Football Focus.

Brendel is under contract for two more seasons, but the 49ers have already brought in competition at his position.

San Francisco this week signed Matt Hennessy to a two-year contract and, following that signing, offensive line coach Chris Foerster made comments that indicated he could soon provide competition for Brendel.

Foerster said in his press conference on Friday: 

"I remember talking with [Miami Dolphins head coach Mike] McDaniel about him and talking with Kyle. We all kind of looked at him and said, ‘Man, we really like this guy.’ It’s like when [Minnesota Vikings OL Garrett] Bradbury came out, the kid in Minnesota, same thing, a good fit for our system, a good player for our system. And Matt was that player. We really had high hopes for him. They took him in Atlanta, he was a good fit for them, but then they drafted another good fit, which was [Atlanta Falcons OL Drew] Dalman from Stanford. And then they put him at center, they moved Matt to guard. Matt’s more of a center than a guard, so whatever’s happened with his crew then. So it’s really exciting and because of the putting guys on IR, we’re able to claim, you’re not necessarily getting guys off waivers that are tryout players, you’re getting draft picks. Matt’s been a guy that we’ve always liked, is a good fit for us. And meeting him, I have not been disappointed at all. He is a good fit."

In Hennessy, the 49ers are getting a player they would have been comfortable taking as a draft pick at center, albeit several years on from when he was taken in third round in 2020.

The 49ers may have a significantly higher opinion of Brendel than the external grading. However, Forster's comments suggest they also had a high level of belief in Hennessy prior to the 2020 draft. 

With Hennessy now under a multi-year contract, the 49ers have a potential replacement for Brendel lying in wait. In a difficult time for a banged-up San Francisco offensive line, Brendel is suddenly under quite a bit of pressure to perform in the final two games to stave off questions surrounding his play going into an offseason in which the Niners could very easily move on from him.

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A potential feel-good story at the end of a tough year.