What the Extension of 2020 Fifth-Rounder Means for the 49ers
After an eventful opening Sunday for the 49ers, San Francisco wasted no time, signing starting right tackle Colton McKivitz to a three-year, $45 million contract extension. Over the years, the 49ers haven’t prioritized upgrading their offensive line; instead, they have developed mid-round selections. McKivitz is a prime example of one of these mid-round selections working out for San Francisco. Drafted in the fifth round back in 2020, it took time for McKivitz to grow into a viable starter in the NFL, as he didn’t get a chance to play significant snaps until 2023.
Moving on from former top-10 overall pick Mike McGlinchey, the 49ers were looking for any answers at the position. As a result, McKivitz was given a chance to make an impact, and he did. In his first season as a starter, he would struggle, allowing nine sacks and 59 pressures and becoming a liability on the offensive line. However, he would show improvement in his second season, only allowing two sacks and 36 pressures. Giving McKivitz this extension displays the confidence San Francisco has in him to improve even more while providing stability on the offensive line. The fifth-year tackle understands what head coach Kyle Shanahan asks for in his linemen, and McKivitz has only grown more comfortable within Shanahan’s scheme throughout his tenure.
Even with this contract news, the 49ers' biggest weakness and future concern is their offensive line depth and talent. Left tackle Trent Williams has held down the fort for the past half-decade, but he’s been rewarded with no help. It seems the 49ers' least valuable position from their perspective is the offensive line. They’ve never prioritized upgrading the unit after missing on McGlinchey with their 2018 first-round selection, and it’s reasonable to say it has cost them in some of their biggest moments. Williams won’t be getting any younger, and they need to find a high-potential prospect at the position if the team thinks they can sustain any success without him. Protecting franchise quarterback Brock Purdy should forever be the ultimate goal. Investing in McKivitz isn’t necessarily a terrible decision, as the offensive line market has grown into a bidding war every offseason, but it shouldn’t eliminate the chance to take a top rookie offensive lineman from the conversation.
