The 49ers need to figure out their offensive line. Their two tackle spots are occupied, but they have three positions along the interior to iron out before Week 1. The most important of those three spots will be center, which Alex Mack left vacant when he announced his retirement. While San Francisco doesn’t have a sure answer at the position, there appears to be a definite frontrunner emerging.
Matt Barrows of the Athletic in a recent mailbag talked about center Jake Brendel stepping in as the No. 1 option in the middle. He’s a favorite of offensive line coach Chris Foerster and per Barrows, will continue getting chances to secure the starting center spot:
Which is to say, Foerster has plenty of sway and the coach is giving Brendel every opportunity to win the job. If training camp starts and he routinely gets whipped by veterans like Maurice Hurst, Kevin Givens and Hassan Ridgeway (Hurst consistently tormented Aaron Banks last year, for example), maybe they move Brunskill to center or call J.C. Tretter or another available veteran. But my guess is that the Week 1 lineup has Brendel at center and Brunskill at right guard.
Brunskill has seen some time at center in his career, but the 49ers would probably like to see a better player emerge there.
Brendel is the most experienced center on the roster, and he’s been with the club since 2020. He spent last season with San Francisco as the backup behind Mack and played in 16 games with three playoff appearances on special teams.
The 49ers have a handful of players who could wind up landing the starting center job. Brunskill, Keaton Sutherland, undrafted rookie Dohnovan West could all potentially wind up in the mix. Barring a disaster though it seems as though it’s Brendel’s job to lose going into training camp.