After suffering yet another defeat in the league’s penultimate game, the 49ers are evaluating their strengths and areas for improvement. They will have access to two 32-year-old interior offensive linemen, and based on Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle, it appears that they intend to consider re-signing Jon Feliciano and/or getting back together with former Jets guard Laken Tomlinson.
Tomlinson spent just two seasons with the New York Yankees before being let go earlier this week. Tomlinson was traded to San Francisco, where he played some of his best football after being selected by the Lions in the first round of the draft. He continued his run of 114 consecutive starts in New York, strengthening his reputation as a dependable pitcher, but he was unable to deliver
the performance that originally brought him a $40 million, three-year contract with the Jets.
Following the news, general manager John Lynch discussed the prospect of a reunion.According to Lynch, “Laken was a big part of who we were.””We’ll speak with his family to find out where he is and what his temperature is.”
The player who did so this season and graded out as the league’s fifth-best offensive guard as a result, Feliciano, is the other option to start at guard for the team next season, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). Feliciano was added to the offensive line as a sort of sixth man. When he first signed with the 49ers, he was a valued backup because of his experience starting at center for the Giants and starting at guard for the Raiders and Bills.
Following a few injuries that presented chances to use their gadget lineman, Feliciano showed he was a good fit and eventually took Spencer Burford’s starting job. The Miami (FL) native, who has nine years of experience, had a career-year while playing replacement duty as a starter. Now that his one-year contract was up, Lynch discussed his impact.
Because our plan is a little different, we were unsure if Feliciano was a good fit for it, Lynch said.
“You must possess the ability to escape. He ended up being a really good fit for the scheme, but we always knew that he was a glue guy. This is the kind of guy who unites people and groups. Crusty, hard-working O-lineman.
Without a doubt, the 49ers could come out of the gate in 2024 and trot out Burford across from Aaron Banks just like they did in 2023. However, Feliciano and Tomlinson appear to be potential improvements at the position, and both should be available for a fair price at age 32. Going forward, Lynch and the 49ers will need to take some action to resolve the situation.
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Schefter Explains How 49ers Passing On Patrick Mahomes Led To Drafting Brock Purdy
According to information provided by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the San Francisco 49ers’ choice to forego selecting quarterback Patrick Mahomes in the 2017 NFL draft may have indirectly contributed to the team’s acquisition of quarterback Brock Purdy in 2022.
The 49ers had the second overall pick in that draft, which could have allowed them to select quarterback Patrick Mahomes. But as Schefter reports, the 49ers took the odd choice to forgo devoting much time or resources to Mahomes’ pre-draft evaluation.
Schefter claims that the 49ers’ belief that Kirk Cousins would be leaving the Washington Football Team in the upcoming offseason was the cause of this oversight. The organization felt there would be no need for a quarterback study because Cousins would inevitably decide to sign with the 49ers.
When New England is involved as the offseason draws near, the plot becomes more complex. In communication with San Francisco, the Patriots conveyed the necessity of splitting with Jimmy Garoppolo and suggested a trade in exchange for a second-round selection.
Kirk Cousins’s expected arrival was delayed when the 49ers accepted the deal after being presented with this unanticipated opportunity.
Going back to the 2017 draft, Schefter disclosed that the 49ers did not conduct a thorough assessment of quarterbacks, with the exception of one surprising development: they ultimately elected to trade up to select CJ Beathard in the third round.
