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San Francisco 49ers Linked to Former Second-Round Pick to Fill Glaring Need

Originally posted on Gridiron Heroics | By Matt Lombardo | Last updated 5/8/24

The 49ers boast one of the deepest rosters in the NFL.

After making a run to the Super Bowl last season, San Francisco has the added bonus of former Mr. Irrelevant and seventh-round draft choice Brock Purdy playing quarterback on one of the most team-friendly contracts in the NFL.

Still, depth along the offensive line remains a bit of a concern for the reigning NFC champions, and could be a position the 49ers could target during free agency’s final wave leading up to the 2024 season kicking off this fall.

San Francisco 49ers Urged to Sign Dalton Risner

As the Kansas City Chiefs showed during the Super Bowl, offensive line is one of the few areas the San Francisco 49ers could use some added depth on a loaded roster.

Pro Football Focus’ Gordon McGuinness put together a list of the one move that every NFC team must still make this offseason, and suggests the 49ers should prioritize signing an offensive guard.

“Dominick Puni can be a day-one starter at right guard for the 49ers,” McGuinness writes for PFF. “As a third-round draft pick out of Kansas, but they could still stand to improve on the opposite side. Aaron Banks earned just a 50.2 PFF pass-blocking grade last season and struggled in the Super Bowl loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. This is a spot where Dalton Risner could compete for a starting job.”

Risner, originally chosen in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos, spent the 2023 campaign with the Minnesota Vikings.

Last season, according to PFF, Risner didn’t allow a sack while surrendering 30 quarterback pressures en route to a 67.4 pass-protection grade, which could make him an ideal addition to the 49ers’ offensive line.

This article first appeared on Gridiron Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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