The 49ers have rightly received a lot of praise for their moves so far this offseason.
San Francisco has added a big-time receiver to its ranks in Mike Evans, solidified the linebacker spot by bringing back Dre Greenlaw, and bolstered an ailing interior pass rush with a trade for Osa Odighizuwa.
Those are all moves worthy of plaudits, but it is once again difficult to get on board with their approach towards the left guard position.
San Francisco’s front office has made a move to improve the options
at that spot after letting former starters Ben Bartch and Spencer Burford walk in free agency. However, the acquisition of Robert Jones on a one-year deal hardly represents an inspiring solution.
Jones brings experience (49 games, 30 starts) and familiarity with the offense. Having played for the Miami Dolphins from 2021 to 2024, Jones should be well-versed in the Kyle Shanahan offense after being coached by Mike McDaniel.
But he is coming off a neck injury that kept him out for the entirety of 2025 after he signed with the Dallas Cowboys, and will seemingly compete with another free agent signing, Brett Toth, and 2025 seventh-round pick Connor Colby for the starting left guard job.
Toth has only six starts to his name since entering the league in 2020. Colby initially impressed after injuries pressed him into action early as a rookie. However, after starting six games, he was benched following his struggles against the Houston Texans in Week 8.
A familiar 49ers approach
It is a plan in line with how the 49ers have typically addressed the offensive line under Shanahan. Though they made the trade for Trent Williams in 2020 and have spent a lot of money to keep the future Hall of Fame left tackle around, the Niners have generally avoided investing significant resources in the offensive line, and especially the interior.
That has often been to their detriment, but the 49ers appear committed to piecing things together on the offensive line without having to use premium capital. As such, it will be no surprise if the 49ers use none of their six picks in the draft on a guard, and leave the spot on the left side of the interior as a fight between two players with limited starting experience, and a veteran returning from injury.
Should they do so, it would amount to neglect of a glaring need.
Aaron Banks had been the long-term starter at left guard before he departed in free agency last offseason. Injuries limited Banks’ consistency in 2023 and 2024, with Burford starting nine games and Bartch two games there in 2025.
Left guard was a glaring need for the Niners going into free agency this month, and the case can be made that it remains so.
Though Jones brings scheme familiarity, his 2024 play did not point to dependability. Indeed, Jones allowed the most sacks (5) of any Dolphins lineman that season, while his 28 pressures allowed only trailed Liam Eichenberg on the team.
With no guarantee of Jones’ long-term health, the 49ers risk allowing left guard to again be a problem position.
There are options outside of the first round in this year’s draft. Oregon’s Emmanuel Pregnon could be a target in the second round, as could Chase Bisontis of Texas A&M. Notre Dame’s Billy Schrauth and Beau Stephens of Iowa are potential day 3 targets.
Yet the reality is that the 49ers are much more likely to focus on improving their pass rush or adding more —pass-catchers to the offense than they are on bolstering the offensive line.
San Francisco’s faith in the coaching of offensive line coach Chris Foerster is a key reason why the 49ers lean on cheaper players up front.
Still, it is bemusing to see the Niners seemingly content to try to plug one of the more obvious gaps on their roster in such a fashion. The 49ers had the chance to upgrade at left guard, and have so far neglected to do so. For a team that has hopes of seriously contending again in 2026, that could prove to be a major misstep.
