With The First Pick
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49ers: 3 free agents who could alter 2021 NFL Draft plans

By Nicholas McGee

Nov 29, 2020; Inglewood, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers offensive tackle Trent Williams (71) before the game against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 29, 2020; Inglewood, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers offensive tackle Trent Williams (71) before the game against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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49ers target Alex Mack. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
49ers target Alex Mack. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

2. Alex Mack/Corey Linsley, C

The interior of the offensive line was an issue for the 49ers in the Super Bowl LIV loss to the Kansas City Chiefs and it remained the case in the 2020 season and as they dealt with a rotating cast at the center position.

Weston Richburg missed the entire season while Ben Garland, Hroniss Grasu and Daniel Brunskill all took snaps at center last season.

That is a situation that cannot be allowed to continue. Richburg’s injury issues give the 49ers motivation to make a modest cap saving by moving on from this year, making a long-term replacement who can fill the void at an extremely important position in Shanahan’s offense a must.

There are experienced options available in free agency who are familiar with Shanahan’s offense.

Mack, who played under Shanahan when he was the offensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons, has called the prospect of playing for the 49ers “very enticing”, per NBC Sports Bay Area.

He is the more affordable option. Linsley should come at a more significant cost after helping the Green Bay Packers’ offensive line excel in their second year in Matt LaFleur’s Shanahan-esque system.

Regardless of whether they stump up the cash for Linsley or come to an agreement with Mack, adding one of that duo in free agency would remove the need and make the prospect of them targeting a Creed Humphrey or a Josh Myers an unlikely one.