Offensive lineman Joshua Garnett’s time with the 49ers will come to an end when the team issues final roster cuts Saturday according to NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco.
It’s not a huge surprise that the team is planning to part ways with the 2016 first-round pick. His fifth-year option wasn’t picked up before the season, and an injury in training camp forced him to miss most of camp and all but one preseason game.
Depth is an issue along the 49ers’ offensive line, and having a first-round talent as a reserve guard is enticing. However, Garnett never lived up to the potential then general manager Trent Baalke saw when San Francisco traded up for him in the first round of the 2016 draft.
He played just 22 games in three seasons with 11 starts that all came in his rookie year. Garnett missed all of the 2017 campaign with a knee injury, then battled various injuries last year when the 49ers had an opening at right guard.
It stands to reason Garnett will get scooped up in free agency. He’s a 25-year-old former first-round pick who’s dealt with injuries. Offensive line depth is an issue around the league and grabbing a talented player with a fresh start is an easy move for a team needing help on the interior of the line.
The inability to get in shape to keep up in Kyle Shanahan’s offense, stay healthy and perform well enough to earn a starting job ultimately led to the 49ers parting with the Stanford product.
