After spending last season watching their quarterbacks crumble in the pocket under interior pressure, John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan knew the needed to upgrade the offensive line.
San Francisco’s brain trust knew they had to improve the pass protection. The first boost came via free agency, as the 49ers added veteran Alex Mack on a two-year deal, bolstering the center spot.
That still left concerns at right guard, which at times felt like a swinging door with a different starter every week. So Lynch and Shanahan decided to invest multiple draft picks on sturdier, bulkier offensive linemen who can develop into future starters at guard and tackle.