Foerster explains why 49ers don’t need first-rounders on O-line originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SANTA CLARA — The 49ers did not draft an offensive lineman until the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, and run-game coordinator Chris Foerster agrees with the philosophy.
While public opinion might be that San Francisco should have taken advantage of the offensive linemen depth in the draft, Foerster, who also serves as the offensive line coach, believes in the earliest rounds of the draft, teams should select players who will have a bigger effect on the game.
“This is my personal opinion,” Foerster said Wednesday at 49ers OTAs. “If they ask me, invest in guys that touch the ball, guys that can touch the ball and score touchdowns. And then there’s a range of guys, second, third, fourth round, fifth round even, that we will find starting offensive linemen in.”
The 49ers’ entire starting lineup of offensive linemen from 2023 are set to return, including All-Pro Trent Williams, Aaron Banks, Jake Brendel, Jon Feliciano and Colton McKivitz. Foerster believes only players that would be considered franchise-type players like Williams should be taken in the early portion of the first round.
“Yeah, you draft Trent Williams,” Foerster said. “You pick a draft where you’re getting a difference maker. But there’s guys that can make a difference, that touch the ball, well into the second, third, fourth rounds, or second and third rounds, at least. And definitely in the first round. That guy that touches the ball, it makes a huge difference in the game.”
Historically, Foerster is right. Over the past several seasons, the 49ers have not had the best success rate on offensive linemen in the first two rounds. While some have played successfully and many remain in the NFL, a skill player taken at the same spot might have made a bigger impact on the game.
Here’s a list of offensive linemen drafted by the 49ers in the first two rounds over the past two decades:
2021…
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