The last time the San Francisco 49ers had a losing season, Richard Sherman was a member of their roster.

That season was one in which the 49ers struggled through an injury crisis before finishing 6-10. In 2024, the injuries haven't been as severe, but they have played a defining role in this 49ers vintage missing the postseason, with a losing season confirmed by Sunday's 29-17 loss to the Miami Dolphins.

And Sherman had his say on what the 49ers most need to fix in the offseason after their season as a relevant playoff contender officially came to an end. 

Speaking on The Richard Sherman podcast, the former All-Pro cornerback said: "That offensive line needs to be the number one, number two and number three priority this offseason.

"If you’re gonna pay this quarterback [Brock Purdy] all the money you’re gonna have to pay him, you want to keep him upright so he can be the playmaker that he has been. 

"This year he’s been under a lot more duress, he’s been using his legs more, he’s had to leave the pocket more often than not – it hasn’t been great, and without Trent [Williams] it’s looked even worse.

“You need a right tackle. No ifs, ands or buts, no discussion, no nothing – a right tackle. You need to figure out a center maybe in the second round. There’s plenty of them in the Big 10 somewhere to find him. Maybe one in the SEC. Then maybe find a guard in free agency. It looks like you have one in [Dominick] Puni. Put a competition out there at left guard. And I know you can’t just draft them one, two, three, four, five, six – but that’s what I would do. We’re gonna hit on one of ’em."

San Francisco's struggles and lack of depth on the offensive line was apparent against Miami as left guard Aaron Banks and Williams' stand-in at left tackle Jaylon Moore each left through injury. Both Banks and Moore are unrestricted free agents in 2025.

Those blows directly contributed to the defeat to the Dolphins as Purdy was hit as he threw on an interception that essentially sealed the game for Miami. 

Per Pro Football Focus, Purdy was pressured 16 times by the Dolphins, with four of them surrendered by center Jake Brendel and three by right tackle Colton McKivitz, who was pushed backwards far too easily on a play that saw a potential touchdown throw from Purdy to George Kittle in the second quarter batted down at the line.

The at best inconsistent form of McKivitz and Brendel has long since been a problem for the 49ers, while the possible departure of Banks may make guard an area in which they look to add. On top of that, Williams' injury issues this year could hasten San Francisco's urgency to find a long-term successor to the future Hall of Famer.

Still, the 49ers need to balance their needs on the offensive line with those in other areas, including on the defensive line and at linebacker, the former having become a very pressing issue as injuries have taken their toll.

But after another game in which the 49ers' struggled mightily in the trenches, it's tough to disagree with Sherman's assessment that O-Line should be the priority, even if them drafting six players in that area is almost certainly not going to happen.

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