The 49ers are deep into training camp, and the familiar wear-and-tear of this time of year is already creeping in. San Francisco has avoided major damage along the offensive line so far, but the left guard spot is still one of the biggest battles on the roster.
That’s where the free-agent market gets interesting. Two former 49ers are still out there, and both would make sense as insurance if San Francisco wants more certainty before the season gets rolling.
Laken Tomlinson is the bigger name of the two. He spent 2017 through 2021 with the 49ers, earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2021, and has since moved on to the New York Jets, Seattle Seahawks, and Houston Texans.
He’s 34, and according to SF Standard’s David Lombardi, he had a bone spur procedure in the offseason but still plans to play. There’s naturally some uncertainty after a season in which he appeared in just 10 games, but if he’s healthy, he still looks like a veteran who can help.
That matters because San Francisco could wind up leaning on a younger option like Connor Colby at left guard. That wouldn’t be a disaster, but bringing back Tomlinson on a one-year deal would give the 49ers a familiar, experienced presence on the left side of the line.
Tomlinson isn’t the only reunion candidate.
Daniel Brunskill is also still unsigned, and his history with San Francisco runs from 2019 to 2022. During that stretch, he filled in at guard, tackle, and center, which made him one of the most useful utility linemen on the roster. He spent last season with the Miami Dolphins.
A 49ers online commentator recently said he ran into Brunskill in Tennessee and that the 31-year-old expressed interest in returning to San Francisco. If the Aaron Donald rumors come true and the perennial All-Pro returns to the Los Angeles Rams, Brunskill would have added value because he was seemingly the only player who could stop him.
Even without that angle, Brunskill would still give the 49ers something they always need: depth. If Colton McKivitz were to go down, Brunskill could help on the right side and keep the line from getting thin in a hurry.
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