Though the 49ers technically addressed every need in free agency and have the ability to select the best players available with their draft picks, they still have one major task ahead of them: safeguarding their franchise quarterback.
While Colton McKivitz and Brandon Parker, the team’s current right tackles, are good enough, they are placeholders, and there are at least seven offensive tackle prospects in the upcoming draft who are currently better than both McKivitz and Parker. The 49ers must select one of these offensive tackles in order to preserve their franchise quarterback investment.
The 49ers last believed they had a franchise quarterback in 2018 when they gave Jimmy Garoppolo the highest salary of any player in the National Football League. They selected right lineman Mike McGlinchey with their first-round selection that offseason.
Brock Purdy, the 49ers’ new acquisition, is a far superior player than Garoppolo ever was. Purdy is deadly when he has time in the pocket, thus it is in the 49ers’ best interest to keep him upright and allow him as much time to throw as possible.
When the 49ers offered Jimmy Garoppolo the largest salary of any player in the National Football League in 2018, they gave rise to the belief that he was their franchise quarterback. That summer, they used their first-round pick on right guard Mike McGlinchey.
The 49ers’ latest addition, Brock Purdy, is a lot better player than Garoppolo ever was. The 49ers should keep Purdy upright and give him as much time as possible to throw because he is lethal when he gets time in the pocket.