San Francisco 49ers: Offensive line must be top priority at 2018 NFL Draft

The San Francisco 49ers are expected to hand quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo a massive new contract. That should make solidifying the offensive line the top priority at the 2018 NFL Draft.

The San Francisco 49ers are preparing for an offseason that will redefine the trajectory of the organization. Fresh off of a season that featured polarizing lows and invigorating highs, the 49ers have emerged as one of the most promising teams in the NFL.

The primary reason for the 49ers’ unexpected resurgence was the arrival of a new franchise quarterback: Jimmy Garoppolo.

Garoppolo changed the culture the day he stepped foot on the 49ers’ practice field. He brought an infectious level of energy and confidence to a struggling team that had displayed all of the characteristics of a defeated mentality.

Once his number was called and his starter status was solidified, the 49ers were transformed from the worst team in the NFL into a seemingly unbeatable force.

Garoppolo appeared in six games for the 49ers, including five starts. San Francisco went 5-0 when he started, with Jimmy GQ displaying a rare measure of poise in clutch situations—a trait that he seemed to transfer to his teammates on both sides of the ball.

In order for the 49ers to turn a promising end to the 2017 season into sustained success, however, they must utilize the 2018 NFL Draft to address the offensive line.

Failing to do so could mean squandering a golden opportunity.