Kyle Shanahan Makes Honest Admission on 49ers’ Offensive Line Draft Philosophy

· Yahoo Sports

Kyle Shanahan has helped build one of the NFL’s most consistent contenders, but the San Francisco 49ers have rarely used their most valuable draft picks on offensive linemen during his time as head coach.

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The 49ers have instead searched for starters in later rounds while investing early picks at other positions. Shanahan recently explained why that approach is intentional.

Kyle Shanahan Explains Why 49ers Do Not Force Picks

Shanahan discussed San Francisco’s philosophy during an October 2026 interview with Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area. He rejected the idea that the team has a rule against selecting offensive linemen early.

Sep 9, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan on the sideline during the second quarter against the New York Jets at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Gonzales-Imagn Images

“By no means do we go into it and say it’s just our philosophy not to take those guys early, but we just don’t take them to take them,” Shanahan said.

The 49ers coach believes offensive linemen are sometimes viewed as safe selections because teams receive less criticism when those players become average starters.

“One thing I noticed a lot in this league, I think a lot of people take Olinemen just to take them,” Shanahan said. “It’s one of safest things to do. If you take an Olineman, very rarely are you gonna get questioned. Very rarely does it turn into busts, even if they’re just an average guy.”


Shanahan also questioned the value of using a first-round pick on a lineman who might not be significantly better than someone available later.

“A guy who’s in the first round and plays like a fourth round guy, but still plays like a starter, there’s not that much difference,” Shanahan added. “It’s hard to find starters, first round, fourth round, whatever, but there’s not that much of a difference until you find like a Pro Bowl type dude.”

That does not mean the 49ers view offensive linemen as unimportant. It means they want more from their most valuable picks.

49ers Have Found Offensive Linemen in Later Rounds

Mike McGlinchey, selected ninth overall in 2018, remains the only offensive lineman drafted by San Francisco in the first round since Shanahan and general manager John Lynch arrived in 2017.

The 49ers later selected Aaron Banks in the second round, Spencer Burford in the fourth and Dominick Puni in the third. Puni became San Francisco’s starting right guard as a rookie, providing an example of the value the team believes it can find after the first round.

Sep 14, 2025; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan leaves the field at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images

San Francisco continued that strategy by selecting Connor Colby in the seventh round in 2025. The team then drafted Carver Willis in the fourth round and Enrique Cruz Jr. in the fifth in 2026.

The 49ers have not ignored the offensive line, but they have refused to treat it as an automatic early-round priority. Shanahan appears willing to wait unless San Francisco finds a prospect capable of becoming more than an average starter.

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