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San Francisco 49ers: Did they make a mistake taking Mike McGlinchey?

By Isaac Gutierrez

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 01: Notre Dame offensive lineman Mike McGlinchey speaks to the media during NFL Combine press conferences at the Indiana Convention Center on March 1, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 01: Notre Dame offensive lineman Mike McGlinchey speaks to the media during NFL Combine press conferences at the Indiana Convention Center on March 1, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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The San Francisco 49ers used their first round pick on an offensive linemen, despite the need for defensive help. Was this the right choice for the team’s future? Perhaps not.

The San Francisco 49ers have used their first round pick on offensive tackle from Notre Dame, Mike McGlinchey. After months of anticipation that the team would use this pick on a linebacker, the team has subverted expectations and gone with the offensive linemen.

McGlinchey is far and away the top tackle prospect in this draft. In his final season at Notre Dame, McGlinchey earned a consensus selection to the All-American team. This pick seems to be more based on filling a position of need than picking the best player available.

Clearly the team wanted to do whatever they can to protect franchise quarterback, Jimmy Garoppolo. This is an understandable decision, but did the team make the right choice by picking McGlinchey?

In short, no.

While tackle is a position of need for the team, understanding why the team went with this player in particular at this pick in particular is difficult. Sure McGlinchey is the best tackle in the draft, but he is far from the ninth best player in the draft, as his draft position may suggest.

Players such as Tremaine Edmunds, Minkah Fitzpatrick and Harold Landry were all still available when the team’s pick was taken. Passing on these players is absolutely mind boggling.

McGlinchey is not a bad player by any means, but there were several players who appear to be much better prospects available. It would seem that the team would have been able to trade down several spots and still select McGlinchey, but they clearly elected not to do so.

Perhaps the team was in love with the prospect and wanted to ensure that no matter what they left this draft with the player they want the most. Regardless, the choice is underwhelming given the talent available.

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In the end, we will have to hope that the front office knows something we don’t know, which is surely the case.

Mike McGlinchey will likely be a good player, worth a first round pick, but it will be no surprise if the team were to look back a year from today and regret passing up on the defensive players they elected not to select.