NFL Draft: Notre Dame’s Mike McGlinchey Drafted By 49ers
By J.P. Scott
The San Francisco 49ers selected Notre Dame’s Mike McGlinchey with the 9th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.
There were a lot of questions in regard to where exactly Mike McGlinchey would be drafted on Thursday night. A widespread need for quarterbacks and an ultra-talented class of edge-rushers and cornerbacks pushed reduced the value of the offensive tackle position in the 2018 NFL Draft.
Those questions were answered when the 49ers took McGlinchey with the No. 9 overall pick in the first round on Thursday.
McGlinchey will immediate occupy the starting left tackle spot for the 49ers. That said, he comes with added value as a guy whose versatility allows him to play right or left tackle depending on personnel or injury issues.
The 49ers selecting McGlinchey was also an investment in the long-term security of quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.
McGlinchey was rated by most experts and publications as the top available prospect at the offensive tackle position coming into the draft. In most other years, he likely would have been a top five pick. Suffice to stay, the 49ers got a steal here.
In addition to his role as Garoppolo’s’s primary blindside protector, he’ll also provide the 49er offensive line with a boost in the running game. Notre Dame had one of the very best run-blocking lines and subsequent running games in all of college football during the 2017 season. McGlinchey and teammate Quenton Nelson — drafted by the Colts with the No. 6 overall pick — had a huge had in that.
San Fran fans should feel great about the addition of McGlinchey to their team. It’s never exciting or sexy when your favorite team drafts an offensive linemen, but 49er fans should rest easy knowing that McGlinchey will be locking down one side of San Fran’s offensive line for the better part of a decade — possibly even longer.