Before the start of training camp at the end of July, we’ll rank the top 25 49ers based on production at their position, physical attributes, upside and expected impact in 2017.
No. 19: Joshua Garnett, OL
The 49ers before 2016 badly needed help along the interior of the offensive line after Jordan Devey and Andrew Tiller proved ineffective at right guard. Chip Kelly was going to install an offense dependent on the running game, and the inside zone, requiring the 49ers to be better between the tackles at creating space for Carlos Hyde.
So former general manager Trent Baalke traded into the first round to take Stanford’s mauling guard Joshua Garnett, considered by many the best run blocking lineman in the entire draft.
The move harkened back the 2010 first-round selection of Idaho guard Mike Iupati, who became an All-Pro and a major part of the running game’s success when the 49ers were contending throughout Jim Harbaugh’s tenure. But Iupati left, as did many others, in the 2015 offseason when he signed a lucrative free agent contract with Arizona.
(Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Insert Garnett, who was forced to miss the bulk of the offseason program due to the NFL rule that prohibits incoming rookies from joining their new teams until their college classes are no longer in session (Solomon Thomas, this year’s first-round pick, recently went through the same scenario).
That put Garnett behind the eight ball as he transitioned to Kelly’s zone blocking scheme after playing mostly power at Stanford. Additionally, Garnett was switching to right guard after playing on the left side in college.
The results weren’t great. Garnett didn’t break into the starting lineup until Week 6 and he struggled both blocking for the run and pass. Pro Football Focus gave Garnett a 42.4 grade last year, ranking 70th among 72 guards.
So where does that leave Garnett entering Year 2 within new coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense? He’s very much in the mix to start, getting the bulk of his practice reps with the first team throughout offseason practices open to reporters. He’s worked at both right and left guard, competing with Zane Beadles, Jeremy Zuttah, Brandon Fusco, Tim Barnes and Daniel Kilgore for a spot along the interior.
Garnett will assuredly benefit from spending his first offseason with the 49ers while getting to learn the new offense. However, Shanahan’s scheme relies heavily on zone concepts, like Kelly’s. It remains unknown if Garnett can transition after his ceiling looked highest in a power gap scheme in college.
If Garnett this offseason gets stronger and more comfortable in the system, his ceiling is as high as any 49ers lineman. But he still has a lot to prove.
Previous rankings:
No. 20: Zane Beadles
No. 21: Quinton Dial
No. 22: Joe Williams
No. 23: Vance McDonald
No. 24: Ahkello Witherspoon
No. 25: K’Waun Williams
