The 49ers didn’t bring in a ton of competition for starting spots on their offensive line. That was by design according to offensive line coach Chris Foerster, who told reporters that neither right guard Spencer Burford nor right tackle Colton McKivitz are in danger of losing their starting spots.
Burford is returning as the starting right guard, but there was some question about his spot as the starter after he spent all of last season rotating with veteran Daniel Brunskill.
For McKivitz, he’s set to replace Mike McGlinchey who joined the Broncos in free agency. McKivitz will be the only new starter on the 49ers’ offensive front. The team made it clear he was the frontrunner for the job when they signed him to a two-year deal this offseason, then didn’t draft anyone to push him for that role.
Foerster on Wednesday said the starting right tackle job is McKivitz’s going into camp.
“I think that knowing the job is his coming into it and it’s his job to lose kind of, although there will be guys that are there to compete if it doesn’t work out,” Foerster said. “I think it is also going to help build his confidence. He is good for the position.”
He relayed a similar message to Burford.
“Well, I’ll tell you what, it’s going to be exciting for him,” Foerster said. “Both those guys (Burford and McKivitz) were in my office yesterday, because I wanted to give them both kind of the same message of you’re not looking over your shoulder right now. This is your job now.”
Foerster did name some of the depth pieces on the 49ers’ offensive line who could presumably push for the job, but that will be contingent on some sort of failure from either one of McKivitz or Burford. They’d need to fall off precipitously for one of the reserves to make their way into the mix.
Continuity is key along the offensive line. Last year the 49ers had uncertainty at all three interior positions. Now they’re going into a year where they know who their five starters will be. That’s a good start for a line that could be ready to take a step forward in 2023.
