The San Francisco 49ers open their offseason review with the offensive line, a unit that matters more to the offense than any position other than quarterback Brock Purdy. It is also one of the hardest groups to judge, given shifting needs across five spots and head coach Kyle Shanahan's specific demands.
Two common claims about the line are only half true. The 49ers do spend on the position, ranking in the upper half of the league in line spending, and the group may have performed slightly above average in 2024 in a season of widespread weak line play around the NFL. Still, with the team expected to give Purdy a massive new contract, perhaps the largest in NFL history, the need for improvement remains.
In 2023, Purdy was an MVP finalist with historically strong efficiency, even though San Francisco ranked No. 24 in Pro Football Focus's cumulative pass-blocking grade. The 49ers addressed that in 2024 and climbed to No. 11. The right side improved sharply once rookie Dominick Puni replaced Spencer Burford at guard, next to tackle Colton McKivitz.
Other problems offset the gains. Injuries to Brandon Aiyuk and Christian McCaffrey, among others, left the team last in the NFL, at No. 32, in average separation at the time of catch or incompletion, down from No. 11. The left side also slipped, from center Jake Brendel to guard Aaron Banks to tackle Trent Williams. Williams, 36, played through an ankle injury that eventually ended his season. General manager John Lynch said this month that it "took a little longer than anyone anticipated" but has "taken a positive turn."
Banks is a pending free agent, and the team has tended not to pay big money at guard, relying on draft picks or inexpensive veterans. Ben Bartch, 26, played well in limited action before a season-ending injury and is also a pending free agent. Nick Zakelj, 25, was strong in pass protection over 162 snaps but must improve as a run blocker. Burford rose from the second percentile in pass protection as a rookie to the 58th percentile in his second year, making him a possible sixth or seventh lineman.
McKivitz improved markedly, giving San Francisco middle-of-the-pack right tackle play at about $6 million per year. Top tackle prospects such as LSU's Will Campbell, projected as a top-five pick, will be hard to get. Director of player personnel Tariq Ahmad said after the 2024 draft that few players have the skill set to play tackle. A more realistic route may be a less polished prospect such as Missouri's Armand Membou or North Carolina State's Anthony Belton.
Center may offer the best payoff. The position identifies safety rotations, sets protections and handles the reach blocks that the outside-zone running game relies on, which is why the team previously added Weston Richburg and Alex Mack. Brendel, the starter since 2022, was an above-average pass protector that year but has regressed since. Matt Hennessy, signed off the Atlanta Falcons' practice squad late in 2024, is under contract through 2025. Atlanta's Drew Dalman is set for free agency in March, and Texas center Jake Majors is a draft prospect to watch.
Rushing efficiency fell sharply in 2024, partly because of running back injuries but also because of struggles on the interior and left side, where Williams was largely absent. Better work at center and left guard looks like the clearest path to fixing both the run game and pass protection.
Separately, the 49ers on Monday hired Brant Boyer as special teams coordinator. He replaces the fired Brian Schneider, whose unit was the NFL's worst in 2024, losing 63.8 expected points. Boyer coordinated the New York Jets' special teams from 2016 to 2024.
