"Despite that reality, few teams have one tackle who can stonewall the best pass-rushers in the NFL and consistently moves bodies in the run game, let alone two," writes Ben Linsey of Pro Football Focus.
Linsey created a list of the NFL's top offensive tackle duos heading into the 2020 season for the analytics site. While the San Francisco 49ers' new duo of seasoned veteran Trent Williams and third-year tackle Mike McGlinchey did not make the top five, they did receive honorable mention.
Linsey notes that the 49ers bookends have the potential to be one of the best in the game, but there remain question marks surrounding the two. Williams did not play last season, and Linsey wonders what he will look like after a significant break from football.
He asks: "What will Williams look like after several injuries and an entire year away from football in 2020? Will he come out right away and look like the elite left tackle he has been for nearly his entire career?"
McGlinchey saw a slight improvement as a pass-blocker (64.2 grade in 2018 to 67.1 in 2019), according to Pro Football Focus' metrics and grading system. Where he excels is run blocking, but Linsey wants to see that continue before he can list the duo as one of the best in the game.
"The talent is there for this to be a top-tier tackle duo," adds Linsey, "and they were close to cracking the top five on this list, but there is reason to be hesitant with some of the questions surrounding Williams and McGlinchey."
Click here to read the entire feature over at Pro Football Focus.