49ers Draft Review – Mike McGlinchey

Day one of the NFL Draft has come and gone! With the ninth overall pick, the San Francisco 49ers drafted Notre Dame offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey (6’7 309 lbs).

There were mixed reactions among both analysts and the 49er Faithful due to the hopes of landing an edge rusher, linebacker or versatile player like Minkah Fitzpatrick. After all, the 49ers have Joe Staley and Trent Brown. What do they need a tackle for?

Joe Staley is 33 and almost 34 years old, though still a very good left tackle. Trent Brown has talent, but there have been rumors that he isn’t meshing with Kyle Shanahan, plus he had shoulder surgery. But perhaps the biggest issue with Brown is that he reportedly came to Mini Camp overweight and out of shape. His conditioning issues are no secret and if he’s showing up like this in a contract year, that doesn’t bode well for his chances of being a part of the long-term plans of the 49ers.

San Francisco needs to ensure that they can protect Jimmy Garoppolo for the long haul if they want to compete for championships. Staley should be around for a couple more years, new pickup Weston Richburg solidifes the center position, and there are some possibilities at guard, like Joshua Garnett. McGlinchey fills a big need this year as the 49ers are already looking into moving Brown and will need an heir-apparent to Staley

McGlinchey has great size and is a good fit for the offense. He has a large frame and is a fantastic run-blocker. According to a scouting report on WalterFootball.com, McGlinchey has the agility, bend and athleticism needed at the position. The biggest question mark is the struggle with speed rushers. Hopefully, the 49ers will be able to coach some improvement in that area, but if the team is as good as advertised, they won’t be drafting very high next year and will lose an opportunity to address this position in 2019.

By drafting McGlinchey, they address a need both for now and the future, and get to control a potential cornerstone player for the next five years.