One area of concern for the San Francisco 49ers this offseason was offensive line. After the departure of starting right guards Adam Snyder to the Arizona Cardinals and Chilo Rachal to the Chicago Bears, the 49ers were set to have Alex Boone, Daniel Kilgore, and Mike Person compete to play right guard. The team can now add one more player to the mix as the team has signed veteran guard Leonard Davis to a one-year contract.
A three-time Pro Bowl guard drafted as the second overall pick in the 2001 draft, Davis played with the Arizona Cardinals from 2001-2006 and with the Dallas Cowboys from 2007-2010. A Pro Bowl selection in his first three seasons in Dallas, he has 155 career starts and spent the majority of the 2011 season with the Detroit Lions. With the addition of Davis, the 49ers have released undrafted free agent guard David Gonzalez of Washington State.
Back in March, the 49ers brought in Davis for a workout, so the team has had interest in the 6-foot-6, 375 pound guard out of the University of Texas. A pro in the NFL for over a decade, Davis has started more games than anyone on the 49ers offensive line. Back in his heyday, he was especially good as at using his size in run-blocking schemes.
The addition of Davis will immediately add to the right guard competition. With Mike Iupati set at left guard and the other three offensive linemen positions set (Joe Staley at left tackle, Anthony Davis at right tackle, Jonathan Goodwin at center), the team's biggest need is at right guard with an unproven Boone serving as the likely starter.
Since he didn't play any snaps last season with the Lions, it's uncertain as to what the 33-year-old can provide. Perhaps filling in as a backup guard, adding Davis is a cheap pickup that could pan out as a starter if he is healthy, prepared for training camp, or if Boone falters in the first-team role. With offensive line play being so critical to the 49ers' running and passing game, the addition of Davis could be a huge pickup if he makes the most of his opportunity.
Sources:
49ers Sign G Leonard Davis, 49ers.com
49ers Sign G Leonard Davis To One Year Deal, Niners Nation
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Austin is a lifelong football fan, San Francisco 49ers supporter, and a Featured Contributor for the Yahoo! Contributor Network. Follow this contributor on Google+ and Twitter @_austinchang.
