The San Francisco 49ers have most of their offensive line starting spots accounted for heading into the 2026 season. Assuming a new deal gets done, All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams will continue to anchor the line, with Colton McKivitz at right tackle. Inside, Jake Brendel is expected to return at center, and Dominick Puni will continue to line up at right guard.

The only unsettled position is left guard, creating one of the team's most intriguing offseason battles.


Ben Bartch opened the 2025 season as the starter, while Spencer Burford also saw time at the position. Both departed in free agency, leaving the 49ers to evaluate new options.

One candidate is Connor Colby, a seventh-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft who made six starts as a rookie. His performance was inconsistent, but the organization sees upside in the young player.

Speaking to reporters at the NFL meetings in Phoenix, Arizona, general manager John Lynch acknowledged that nothing is set in stone at the left guard spot.

"I think left guard's going to be a competition, and I don't think we're done there yet," Lynch said. "We still have a draft. We were pleased with the way Colby performed at times last year. He showed a lot of traits that make you believe that, if he can keep ascending, he's a candidate."

The 49ers also added veteran Robert Jones this offseason. Jones brings experience in a similar offensive system from his time with the Miami Dolphins (2021–2024), though he missed the 2025 season due to a neck injury.


"Robert Jones is a guy that we've tracked and liked, played in a very similar system," Lynch said. "... So he's very familiar with the things that we do, the way we play, and we've liked him.

"Last year, he didn't play with his neck deal, kind of an interesting situation where he had to sit out the year. But we obviously did a thorough look into that situation, and we felt good, we felt confident—not me, our neuro guys, our spine guys did—and so we felt good about that."

On Monday, head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed Jones will be firmly in the mix when competition begins.

"Oh yeah, he'll be in the competition," Shanahan said. "We'll have a number of guys in that, and hopefully, we'll add someone in the draft to do that too. You never can guarantee that, but when we get to OTAs, hopefully, we have a number of guys fighting for that spot."

Shanahan also stressed the value of Jones being familiar with the 49ers' offensive scheme.


"It always helps," he said. "It helps us to study guys because you can see them do it, and when they do have familiarity with your scheme, you know it's not going to be such an expectation of what they can do. You can see what they can do, and hopefully, they can excel in it."

Regarding the left guard spot, Lynch reiterated, "So, I think that thing's going to be wide open ... I think we'll throw a lot of people at that, and see who rises to the top."

Beyond the left guard competition, the 49ers bolstered their depth by adding Vederian Lowe and Brett Toth in free agency.

"Vederian gives us a legit swing tackle who's started a lot of games in this league and held his own when he does," Lynch shared. "Toth is a really unique guy, a guy who came from West Point, and Philly does a really good job developing, taking some projects ... and he's only a project in that he was a tackle, who was a smaller guy because he was at the academies.

"He's kind of ascended, played some guard, but more center. That's probably his best spot. But I think he can fit in that competition at left guard as well."

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