Richard Sherman thinks the 49ers are walking into a dangerous season with a familiar blind spot up front.
San Francisco has built its offensive line without leaning on premium draft capital, aside from the big money spent on future Hall of Fame left tackle Trent Williams. That approach is exactly what caught Sherman’s attention with Week 1 looming, especially with the 49ers heading into a tough opener in Melbourne, Australia, against the Los Angeles Rams.
The matchup only sharpened the concern. Los Angeles recently coaxed future Hall of Fame defensive tackle Aaron Donald out of retirement, and Sherman pointed to that front as part of a brutal stretch of pass-rushing talent in the NFC West. He also referenced Seattle as another team with a dangerous defensive line.
On his podcast, Sherman didn’t mince words about San Francisco’s approach to the unit. He viewed the team’s late trade for former Houston Texans guard Jarrett Patterson as a reaction, not a real solution.
"They didn’t strengthen it," Sherman said of the Niners' O-line. "And now we’re a week away from the season, and they’re trading for interior offensive linemen because it’s an obvious place of concern.
We knew that two years ago. That’s the part where I don’t really get it."
He doubled down by pointing out the challenge ahead for San Francisco’s blockers.
"You’re about to go against the most dynamic defensive lines in the league in L.A. and Seattle. Two of the most incredible D-lines in the league, and you’re just gonna say, 'Hey, we’ll figure it out as we go', against Aaron Donald, against Leonard Williams, Byron Murphy, Jarran Reed.
That’s what you’re going to go with? That’s the plan?"
Sherman’s comments also line up with the 49ers’ recent draft history. Dominick Puni was taken in the third round in 2024, but San Francisco has not used a first-round pick on an offensive lineman since Mike McGlinchey in 2018.
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Pass-rush help is the area most often mentioned around the Niners, and that alone tells you where the pressure is building. Jared Verse has been one of the names floated as a possible target, and his contract status for the next two years only adds to the intrigue for a team that wants more disruption up front without sacrificing long-term control. The question for San Francisco is no longer whether it can afford to chase a difference-maker, but whether this is the moment to spend the capital to do it. [Read more 🡒]