Published Apr 26, 2025 • 2 hrs ago
Photo courtesy of the San Francisco 49ers
The above videos are auto-populated by an affiliate.
Heading into the 2025 NFL Draft, the offensive line was considered one of the San Francisco 49ers’ most pressing needs, with many mock drafts even projecting an offensive lineman at the 11th overall pick.
While the 49ers did select an offensive lineman, they didn’t do so until the seventh round, when they picked Iowa guard Connor Colby. Tackle was widely seen as the more immediate need, especially with Trent Williams set to turn 37 ahead of the 2025 season.
The 49ers are negotiating a contract extension with quarterback Brock Purdy, so protecting this soon-to-be costly investment would seem like a top priority.
“We were able to do that in the seventh round with Connor Colby,” general manager John Lynch explained to reporters after the draft. “But yeah, there were a number of times that we were interested in adding, and it just didn’t come our way. You’ve got to stay true to where you have guys graded, not take guys just to take them, but to take guys that you’re interested in at that point. And it just never really aligned.
“And so, we were happy to add Colby. We think he’s a really good scheme fit. The great thing about Iowa is they run a very similar [scheme]. They run a lot of outside zones, so you get to see a guy like him do things that we do, and he does them well.
“So, we’re happy to add that, but there were a number of times Kyle and I were talking about that at the end—that just didn’t align. One of those deals, and you don’t want to force things. And so, it wasn’t our time for that, other than Connor, and we’ll move forward.”
When asked if Colby might be tested at one of the tackle spots, Lynch emphasized that the 49ers view him as a guard.
Nobody’s perfect. Did you find a mistake in this article?
Report it.
Comments
Do not use the comments to notify us of errors in the article. Editors may not see it. Instead, report errors here.
More San Francisco 49ers News
Lynch, Shanahan address 49ers going all-in on defense during draft
Day 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft is in the books, and general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan have now added four new players to the San Francisco 49ers roster—all on the defensive side of the ball.
With the 11th overall pick, the 49ers selected Georgia…
49ers address the trenches in CBS Sports mock drafts
Most expect the San Francisco 49ers to target the trenches in the 2025 NFL Draft, which kicks off in less than a week. General manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan hold the No. 11 overall pick, but there’s no clear consensus on which player—or even…
Mock draft: 49ers address two needs with one pick—Banks replacement and Williams successor
R.J. White of CBS Sports released his latest mock draft, projecting that the San Francisco 49ers will tackle both a short-term and long-term need with a single selection. After losing left guard Aaron Banks in free agency and with All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams turning 37…
It’s the Trenches, Man: Why the 49ers Can’t Overlook the O-line
Last year, San Francisco 49ers offensive line coach Chris Foerster said this about the draft: “If they ask me, invest in guys that touch the ball, guys that can touch the ball and score touchdowns . . . That guy that touches the ball, it makes a huge difference in the game.”
I…