SANTA CLARA — Guard Ben Garland signed Tuesday with the 49ers, and while he is familiar with coach Kyle Shanahan’s system from their 2016 season together in Atlanta, the 49ers needed depth at that spot entering this week’s draft.
Garland appeared in 46 games and started seven during his Falcons tenure the past three seasons. He originally signed with the Denver Broncos in 2010 out of the Air Force Academy and, after his two years of military commitment, he spent two seasons on the Broncos practice squad before a 2014 promotion as a defensive lineman.
Left guard Laken Tomlinson is coming off a knee injury in last season’s finale, but he’s viewed as an entrenched starter.