The San Francisco 49ers have a big decision to make this offseason: Is it time to build around quarterback Brock Purdy?
Purdy led the 49ers to a Super Bowl appearance in his first full season in 2023, one year after becoming the last pick in the NFL Draft. Though not all evaluators consider him a game-changing talent, Purdy has been the best statistical quarterback in the league since the start of last season.
After the 2024 season, though, Purdy will no longer be the world's cheapest quarterback commodity. He'll be extension-eligible, and the 49ers will be forced to decide how much he is truly worth.
Signing Purdy to a lucrative deal would put a strain on the overall payroll. Plus, San Francisco will also have to determine who will help superstar left tackle Trent Williams keep Purdy upright in 2025.
On Monday, Bleacher Report's NFL Scouting Department predicted that the 49ers would sign Miami Dolphins left guard/interior offensive lineman Liam Eichenberg to strengthen Purdy's protection in free agency.
"The first three years of Liam Eichenberg's career were bad as he kept switching positions, taking snaps at all five offensive line spots," the authors said. "However, he appears to have found a home at guard and has been playing well through the first three games of 2024 with just three pressures surrendered and a 78.4 run-blocking grade, per Pro Football Focus."
Eichenberg, 26, was a Dolphins second-round pick in 2021. He has played mostly left guard the last two-plus seasons after spending his rookie year as the left tackle. The 49ers' own left guard, Aaron Banks, is another impending free agent.
Eichenberg has been learning from a Kyle Shanahan disciple in Miami head coach Mike McDaniel for the past two seasons, so it only makes sense that Shanahan himself would be his next guru.
A team can never have too much offensive line help, and Eichenberg could cement himself as one of the league's best guards in the San Francisco system. We'll have to wait until the spring to see if the two sides join forces.
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