49ers' Christian McCaffrey-Led Run Game Benefits From Best 'Building Block' Lineman

The San Francisco 49ers had the 12th-best run game and fourth-best pass game in the NFL last season. However, the team's record tanked due in part to detrimental injuries to multiple offensive weapons.

Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk will miss a chunk of the beginning of the season, but the Niners have plenty of other pass-catching weapons to make things easy on quarterback Brock Purdy. The run game will greatly benefit from returning star ball-carrier Christian McCaffrey after just four games played in 2024.

Another major contributor to the offense's success is the offensive line, and other than Trent Williams, one lineman stood out in a great way last season: rookie guard Dominick Puni.

Entering his second season, Puni has been named as the 49ers most promising building block for the future.

"In San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan's run-heavy offense, Dominick Puni made a strong first impression," Bleacher Report's Moe Moton wrote.

The third-round pick out of Kansas started all 17 games last season at right guard. He finished the season with an impressive 80.5 grade by PFF - which was the 11st-best among all 136 qualified guards in the league.

He most excelled in the run game, posting a top-10 mark of 81.5.

"I think it shows that our process worked there, but I would say he really exceeded our expectations," General manager John Lynch said about his young lineman. "We thought we got a good player. I think he showed us a little more than that."

With Williams turning 37 ahead of this season, his time to hang up the cleats is fast approaching. The Niners will need someone to step up and impose their will on the offensive line to become a leader for the next generation.

Puni's stellar rookie season poses a lot of confidence that he can fit that mold.

With a healthy McCaffrey back in the backfield, we're expecting to see Puni lead the charge of a dangerous rushing attack this season and beyond.