Brendel is going to start for the 4th straight year, but where does he rank in the NFL?
Pro Football Focus has continued ranking all 32 players at each position, with the center position today. For the San Francisco 49ers, the offensive line is a major talking point for fans and analysts. While the sum of the parts of the line makes it a middling group, Trent Williams does the heavy lifting at left tackle.
Colton McKivitz is a good return on investment for the 49ers at right tackle. Dominick Puni was excellent in his rookie season. Aaron Banks had an up-and-down season but departed for Green Bay, leaving an opening at left guard.
And then there is Jake Brendel. From 2016 to 2018, Brendel played 244 snaps for the Miami Dolphins. Current 49ers Offensive Line coach Chris Foerster was in Miami with Brendel and, after three years out of the NFL, returned to the league with the 49ers in 2021.
2022 was Brendel’s first season as a full-time starter after logging only six snaps in 2021. Since then, Brendel has played over 1,000 snaps at center for the 49ers. His best season as a pass blocker was 2021, with a 71.9 pass-blocking grade. However, 2022 and 2023 were severe down years for Brendel, with a 42.3 pass-blocking grade and a 55.1 grade in respective years.
Mason Cameron of PFF ranks Brendel at number 24.
While Brendel has stumbled as a pass blocker over the past two seasons, he continues to showcase his ability as a run blocker. The 49ers veteran produced a 70.0-plus PFF run-blocking grade in 2023 and 2024, garnering a top-15 rank at the position over that span.
There’s no doubt Brendel’s value comes from the run game. 2024 was a career-high as a run blocker with a 71.6 run blocking grade. Brendel’s 55.1 pass-blocking grade ranks 22nd in the NFL for the center position. While Brendel only allowed one sack, three QB hits, 22 hurries, and 26 pressures on 656 pass-blocking snaps, the center committed ten penalties, which is tied for second in the NFL.
The 49ers will roll with Brendel again in 2025 at center. It is fair to wonder how much longer the team can roll with Brendel and what the plan is moving forward.