The Riskiest Move the 49ers Made This Offseason

They didn't have a ton of salary cap space to sign a bunch of free agents nor have any high draft picks to get a touted prospect.

Not too many moves were made this offseason by the San Francisco 49ers.

They didn't have a ton of salary cap space to sign a bunch of free agents nor have any high draft picks to get a touted prospect. However, they made the most of it in free agency when they signed Javon Hargrave and in the draft by finding their starting kicker and a potential starter in safety Ji'Ayir Brown. 

Besides, there wasn't a lot of tinkering needed by the 49ers this offseason anyways. They’re practically set to give it another strong playoff run in 2023. But there is one move they made this offseason that is extremely risky and can carry a lot of repercussions.

That move is implementing Colton McKivitz as the starting right tackle. With Mike McGlinchey out in Denver, it pushes McKivitz up the depth chart. He's by default the most sensible player to install there. Now, the 49ers have not crowned him the starter yet. They have given him the lead to win it citing that it is "his job to lose" per offensive line coach Chris Foerster. Competition is the best way to get the most out of him by lighting a fire under him. They have to dangle the job out in front of him like how a jockey would use a carrot with their horse. The hope is that it can get him to compete at a high level and be efficient. 

However, there really isn't a sound backup plan if McKivitz doesn't pan out. Not to mention the elephant in the room here is that McKivitz hasn't looked all too convincing when he has actually played. All of a sudden, the 49ers think he can be a suitable replacement for McGlinchey? I wasn't fond of McGlinchey during his tenure the last three seasons, but I definitely do not think the gap between him and McKivitz is close. The 49ers are risking a lot here by letting McKivitz get the shot. They end up putting consistency of their offense on the line along with whoever is the starting quarterback. 

This is likely why the 49ers have three quarterbacks in Brock Purdy, Trey Lance, and Sam Darnold. I feel extremely confident that all three will see playing time through the entire season. The 49ers have to keep them all because the chances of the starter, I presume will be Purdy, sustaining an injury from the right side of the offensive line is decent. All of the chips are placed on McKivitz. The 49ers didn't find any offensive tackle adequate in free agency nor the draft, and they clearly didn't care much about who was available via trade either. 

This is a move that can hurt the 49ers and it is by far the riskiest move of their offseason. They run the risk of their offense skipping a beat by getting their quarterbacks hurt. McKivitz being the lead player to start is all because the 49ers failed to find anyone else. If McKivitz ends up being a solid starter, then by all means they will look like complete geniuses and will end up being their best developed offensive lineman. I'm just not holding my breath on it to become reality.