When the San Francisco 49ers drafted Mike McGlinchey in the first round (No. 9 overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft, it wasn’t seen as a “sexy” pick. Many expected the Niners to go with a pass rusher or top cornerback, as at the time, tackle didn’t appear to be a top need for the team.
The 49ers traded their existing right tackle Trent Brown to the New England Patriots in order to make room for McGlinchey. Although Brown was considered to be a great pass protector, his grades slipped when it came to the run game.