NFL Rumors: San Francisco 49ers Drafting Ronnie Stanley

NFL rumors are swirling around Ronnie Stanley. He’s widely regarded as the second best offensive tackle coming out of the college ranks. With pass rushers becoming such a threat in the National Football League, it has made the offensive line that much more of a priority for football executives. Plenty of teams are interested in Stanley. According to NFL.com, the San Francisco 49ers could draft the Notre Dame Fighting Irish star when it is their turn to make a selection.

Ronnie Stanley might be better than former Notre Dame Fighting Irish teammate Zack Martin. The Dallas Cowboys guard is considered one of the best blockers in the NFL. That says a lot about Stanley. Ronnie replaced Zack once he decided to join the National Football League. Martin moved from left tackle to right guard. Stanley won’t need to do the same thing. He’s good enough to play the hardest position on the offensive line.

The San Francisco 49ers might have some competition for Ronnie Stanley. There are talks that the New York Giants would love to add the 22-year-old offensive tackle to their roster. Their offensive line has slowly improved over the years. Stanley could help make them a lot more solid. Protecting Eli Manning is of the utmost importance. Their starting quarterback is their best bet at getting back to the NFL Playoffs.

Back when the San Francisco 49ers were getting deep into the NFL Playoffs on a yearly basis, they did so because their offensive line was one of the most dominant units in football. The team has suffered some losses. Mike Iupati left in free agency and signed with the Arizona Cardinals. Anthony Davis retired early and is struggling to make a comeback. Alex Boone is now with the Minnesota Vikings. The quality of play from the offensive line is not nearly as good as it was back then.

Since they’re in a rebuilding period, the San Francisco 49ers are trying to rebuild all of their units. The offensive line needs an infusion of talent. Left tackle Joe Stayley is the only blocker that is Pro Bowl quality. He’s getting older, so his quality of play will be diminishing soon. Staley should not be the only good player because that puts the quarterbacks and running backs at risk.

The San Francisco 49ers have attempted to upgrade their offensive line. They were interested in former Baltimore Ravens guard Kelechi Osemele. He ended up signing with the Oakland Raiders. The contract might have been more than what the Niners were willing to spend. As a secondary plan, San Francisco opted to sign Zane Beadles in free agency. The former Jacksonville Jaguars star isn’t great, but he’s good enough.

Since the free agency cupboard is getting bare, the San Francisco 49ers know that they need to focus on the NFL Draft if they want to upgrade their offensive line. With the seventh overall pick, the Niners have a chance to find at least another starter. If they’re lucky, they find a very good player. Ronnie Stanley is supposed to be a very good player in the National Football League. It could be an excellent pick for San Francisco.

The San Francisco 49ers can kill two birds with one stone in the upcoming NFL Draft. They can find their new starting right offensive tackle in Ronnie Stanley. He can learn under the tutelage of Joe Staley. Once the veteran decides to walk away from the National Football League, Stanley can shift from the right side to the left. He can be the anchor of the Niners’ offensive line for the next several years.