Is it wise for the 49ers to sign a free agent offensive lineman?
The 49ers may need to spend big in free agency to fill a need.
In two weeks, the San Francisco 49ers will enter free agency, and they are making preparations in order to free up cap space and be competitive players at the start of the initial contact period.
The 49ers will need to make depth adjustments in a number of areas, whether through free agency or the NFL Draft, but the offensive line—where San Francisco struggled at points in the previous season—may be the most crucial position.
Trent Williams, the 49ers’ elite option going forward, and Aaron Banks, the left guard, can at least be mediocre. But the rest of the offensive line has not performed well, and San Francisco may decide to replace them all in free agency.
Is it wise for the 49ers to sign a free agent offensive lineman?
Argument in favor of it
The 49ers need help along their front five, and the only way to add win-now quality at a fair price is through free agency.
Given their premium cost and dearth of elite-level play, I haven’t always supported paying offensive lineman in free agency, but this year’s class is deep enough to discover value in the middle of the free agent class.
In order to contend for next season, the 49ers should now aim to get a starter at both center and guard rather of settling for just one guy.
If the organization decides to part ways with Jake Brendel—who received an extension last offseason in a dubious move—they would save a little cash, as Spencer Burford hasn’t exactly made an impression as the 49ers’ guard.
More significantly, the 49ers would have more options in the draft if they decided to sign free agents. Instead of concentrating on needs and possibly reaching for players, as they have in the past, particularly in the earlier rounds, they would be more likely to select best-player-available (BPA).
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The argument against it
Paying offensive lineman top dollar has not always been the 49ers’ practice; players such as Mike McGlinchey and Laken Tomlinson were allowed to leave in free agency in exchange for compensatory choices.
Considering the sums of money they each received in free agency from their respective organizations, both moves were the appropriate ones.
Is it worth it to spend in free agency on the offensive line to bolster an aging club that has a plethora of draft picks, especially given the high cost of the position?
It would also force the 49ers to find a method to free up cap space, which would push the issue farther down the road.
Their roster contains players that are more important, thus they will be under more pressure to make wise free agency decisions if they want to keep their championship window open.
My Opinions
The 49ers should, in my opinion, add at least one offensive lineman this summer. This would go against team policy and commit top dollar and resources to a position group that has never truly been a strength for San Francisco under Kyle Shanahan.
There are definitely accessible guards and centers to sign, even though I don’t think a tackle is in the mix given the class of free agents and the perceived cost of acquiring one.
The 49ers should investigate the possibility of getting some players for less money due to a deeper class in free agency, but they also need to make the most of what might be their last season with their existing core.
San Francisco might not have the patience to go through a longer learning curve in 2024 if they draft and start offensive linemen, therefore it would be best to sign at least one tackle via free agency this summer.
