San Francisco 49ers Hoping Colton McKivitz Can Emulate Jake Brendel

Conspicuous by its absence from the San Francisco 49ers’ 2023 draft was the selection of an offensive tackle. That may seem a curious omission after the departure of Mike McGlinchey in free agency, but following the end of the final day of the draft on Saturday, the 49ers expressed confidence in their succession plan.

Colton McKivitz, who signed a two-year contract extension this offseason, is the favorite to take over from 2018 first-round pick McGlinchey.

McKivitz has started only five games in his career since being drafted by the 49ers in 2020, two of those coming across the last two seasons, successfully deputizing for left tackle Trent Williams in wins over the Los Angeles Rams in 2021 – helping the Niners clinch a playoff berth in Week 18 – and 2022.

Asking him to become the long-term starter at right tackle is an entirely different proposition. However, McKivitz served as the Niners’ swing tackle last year and there is recent precedent to suggest their patience in developing him can pay dividends should he indeed become the starter.

The 49ers made a similar bet on center Jake Brendel last offseason. Brendel became Alex Mack’s successor at center despite previously having started only three games in his career.

Brendel was hugely impressive and was signed to a four-year extension this offseason.

Still only 26, the 49ers are hoping McKivitz follows a similar trajectory, though head coach Kyle Shanahan acknowledged in a post-draft press conference that they can take nothing for granted in that regard.

“Just getting an O-lineman to start in this league is really tough, especially how different playing in the league is than college, and the lack of preparation we get with how OTAs are this year, how much shorter training camp is, but you can win with Colton,” Shanahan said when asked if the lack of a tackle selection was a vote of confidence in McKivitz.

“He’s been here for a while. When he has played we have won games with him. He did a hell of a job last year, or two years ago getting into the playoffs when he had to start unexpectedly against the Rams.

“But I look at Colton very similar to how Jake was last year. We felt very good about Jake, but you never know until they get out there a ton, and you look in the draft to add depth and you always want to if there’s someone’s there that falls in that you think can beat out your starter, that’s really a good pick, but it’s not easy to find a guy, a pick 99 or later that can beat out Colton McKivitz, just like you don’t just find anyone for Jake Brendel last year.

“So, when you have guys who’ve played and you practice with a lot, and you have an idea about them, I get how not everyone else knows about them as much, because they haven’t seen them, but I mean we were going to that draft hoping to find depth and hoping to find some competition, but to go into that draft and think you’re going to find someone to start over someone like Colton, or as good as Colton can be and has been, would be very unusual.”

During the 2020 draft process, McKivitz received a ‘gold helmet’ designation from the 49ers, given to prospects who are exemplary in several areas, according to Matt Barrows of The Athletic.

The Niners have veteran Matt Pryor as insurance but, after opting not to add right tackle competition via the draft, San Francisco will likely need McKivitz to be consistently exemplary in 2023 for its offensive line to provide the platform for a Super Bowl run.