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

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SANTA CLARA, CA – DECEMBER 24: George Kittle #85, Laken Tomlinson #75 and Daniel Kilgore #67 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after Kittle scored on a 7-yard touchdown catch against the Jacksonville Jaguars during their NFL football game at Levi’s Stadium on December 24, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

A Porous Offensive Interior

The San Francisco 49ers have talent at multiple positions, but the offensive line has been rather disappointing. That isn’t true of every starter, as Joe Staley ranks amongst the league’s elite tackles, and fellow starter Trent Brown excels at protecting the quarterback.

The unfortunate reality in San Francisco is that the three players working between the tackles haven’t combined to provide reliable pass protection.

Amongst guards, 49ers star Brandon Fusco played the third-most pass-blocking snaps in the NFL, with fellow Niner Laken Tomlinson ranked close behind at No. 6. Availability is certainly strength, but the unfortunate reality is that Tomlinson was well below average in pass protection.

Only two players allowed more total quarterback pressures than Tomlinson in 2017, which outweighs the importance of his decent run protection

It certainly doesn’t help that fellow starter Daniel Kilgore allowed the fourth-most quarterback pressures of any center in the NFL. That combination of multiple below-average pass blockers makes the 49ers’ offensive interior one in dire need of improvement.

Free agency would enable San Francisco to address that flaw, but with other contracts to dish out, the NFL Draft again becomes the most reliable avenue to success.

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