The 49ers moved into the fifth-round of the draft in a deal that sent running back Matt Breida to Miami. They used that fifth-round selection on West Virginia offensive tackle Colton McKivitz.
McKivitz is the second offensive tackle the 49ers acquired on Day 3 of the draft after they traded two picks to Washington for Trent Williams. He joins a roster that includes Mike McGlinchey, Shon Coleman and last year’s sixth-round pick Justin Skule. Daniel Brunskill also spent time at tackle last season. There are a ton of bodies at that position, including two starters.
So why did the 49ers pick up a tackle with the fifth-round pick the acquired for Breida? Because McKivitz probably won’t stay at tackle.
He told Draft Wire’s Justin Melo that some teams he spoke to saw him as a right tackle, but other clubs discussed a move to the interior.
“Speaking to a few different NFL teams at the Senior Bowl, the consistent feedback I received was that the league views me as a right tackle,” McKivitz said. “I’ve played a little guard in my time as well, and some teams mentioned that as a possibility. The league sees me as a tackle at the end of the day, but they think I’m versatile enough to basically play anywhere.”
Versatility is key along the offensive line, and having players that can play multiple positions helps with roster flexibility. Brunskill joined the 49ers as a tackle and started games there with Mike McGlinchey out. He was also first off the bench at right guard when Mike Person was hurt. McKivitz could wind up filling a similar role.
He only has 33 3/4-inch arms, which isn’t ideal for a tackle. He’s also not particularly athletic, so a move to the interior could mitigate some of his physical shortcomings and turn him into a good-sized guard.
McKivitz was asked by 49ers reporters after he was drafted whether the team asked him to play guard, and he said his contact with San Francisco was limited after the combine. He also explained what his limited is on the interior.
“I played one game at guard in 2018,” McKivitz said. “And then at the Senior Bowl I played guard.”
If he can step in early on and show off some versatility at multiple offensive line spots, he could be a factor on the 49ers’ roster early in his career. San Francisco using a fifth-round pick on him seems to indicate they think he can do that.