The San Francisco 49ers have quietly been busy looking at offensive linemen in advance of the 2017 NFL Draft. The latest is a Florida Gator. Tampa Bay Times NFL reporter Greg Auman is reporting the 49ers brought in offensive tackle David Sharpe for an official visit last week. Auman reported Sharpe also had visits with the Detroit Lions and Carolina Panthers.
Sharpe was a two-year starter at left tackle for Florida, but scouting reports see him likely moving inside to guard. They point to a lack of foot quickness who reaches with his upper body rather than his feet. He’s a monster of a man at 6’6 343 pounds, but he seems to lack the necessary athleticism to play tackle at the NFL level.
CBS Sports projects him as a third or fourth round pick. NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein compared him to guard Vadal Alexander, and offered this summary:
Massive tackle who will be forced to bump inside due to a lack of athletic ability to handle pass protection details. Sharpe does have enough size and length to get a team out of the game at tackle if injuries set in. Sharpe's lack of leverage and lateral agility limits what teams can ask of him and he needs to be in the right scheme for a chance at success as a starter.
The 49ers have been looking at some tackle options, and they’ll need to find somebody to eventually replace Joe Staley. But with Staley playing well and not losing a step at this point, the interior of the line is where help is really needed. My guess is that’s where the 49ers are more likely to draft an offensive lineman earlier than later.