We should add a caveat, for the duration of the season*** when talking about the 49ers, as injuries could
The San Francisco 49ers head into the 2025 regular season with four returning starters along the offensive line. The popular opinion was to replace Jake Brendel this offseason. That did not happen. The additions along the interior came via the NFL Draft. Connor Colby was selected in the seventh round, and Drew Moss was an undrafted free agent.
There were no free agent signings along the offensive line until after the NFL Draft, and those came at offensive tackle. D.J. Humphries? Never heard of him. Andre Dillard and Nicholas Petit-Frere are the swing tackles…for now.
Today’s question of the day revolves around the starters up front.
What will the 49ers starting offensive line look like this season?
My answer: Trent Williams, Jake Brendel, and Dominick Puni should be written on the first team depth chart with a Sharpie marker.
Social media has painted a picture that Brendel is this unplayable player. During the offseason, Drew Dalman was the “dream” signing that would be an “upgrade” from Brendel. Dalman finished third among all centers in 2024 in blown block percentage at 1.3. He did that on 525 snaps. Guess who was right behind him? Good guess. On 1,013 snaps, Brendel finished with a 1.4-blown block percentage playing next to a rookie.
The point is: Brendel being bad is a figment of your imagination.
Williams is a Hall of Famer and will go down as one of the best to ever do it. He also noticed Puni instantly and said the rookie has a chance to be an All-Pro sooner than later.
That brings us to right tackle. The 49ers want to push Colton McKivitz. However, they had too many holes on the defensive side of the ball to select a right tackle early enough. That meant Dillard and Petit-Frere would wind up as McKivitz’s offseason competition.
Dillard has lined up at every position other than center. He’s played right tackle in two games. Barring injury, he understands the best way to see the field is on the right side. But the numbers aren’t in his or Petit-Frere’s favor, meaning McKivitz’s job is safe for another year.
That brings us to left guard, one of the only question marks on this side of the ball. Ben Bartch, Spencer Burford, Matt Hennessy, Nick Zakelj, Colby, and Moss are all competing for three spots. There’s no evidence that Bartch can stay healthy. He had an impressive game last year in the snow, but how realistic or sustainable is Bartch having a clean sheet every game? Unlikely.
Day 3 rookies or a UDFA? Good luck. Burford? He had his chance early last season, and the 49ers couldn’t wait to put Aaron Banks back in once he was healthy. Even after Bartch got hurt, Banks miraculously recovered.
The process of elimination brings us to Hennessy, an unknown. The former third-round pick has 1,302 career snaps. He started every game for Atlanta back in 2021, which highlights the lack of experience the 49ers are dealing with at left guard.
Hennessy played five games at left guard as a rookie in 2020 and appeared there again for three games in 2022. I think he gives the 49ers the best chance to compete in 2025, and is my prediction to start at left guard.
Williams-Hennessy-Brendel-Puni-McKivitz.