The 49ers have had a difficult time with their interior offensive line this offseason. Injuries, opt outs and a retirement have forced San Francisco to add yet another interior lineman. They’re going to sign former Raven Hroniss Grasu according to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport.
Grasu was a third-round pick of the Chicago Bears in 2015 out of the University of Oregon. He started all eight games he played during his rookie campaign, but tore his ACL in training camp going into his second year and missed the entire season. He came back in his third year and started four of his six contests.
The Ravens signed Grasu in 2018, and he spent parts of the next two seasons in Baltimore where he started one game in his first season there. He was released and bounced to the Dolphins and Titans before landing back with Baltimore for one game.
San Francisco could use some additional depth inside. Starting center Weston Richburg is out with a knee injury, and his replacement Ben Garland is working through an ankle ailment. Jake Brendel was a reserve on the interior but opted out of the 2020 season. Spencer Long was signed after that, but he retired just four days after officially joining the 49ers.
Grasu is a long shot to make the roster, but there’s enough turnover inside that he’ll get a real opportunity to earn a spot with some additional reps in camp.