The San Francisco 49ers did little to address their offensive line during the three days of the 2025 NFL Draft, waiting until Round 7 to grab a low-profile guard out of Iowa, Connor Colby, who has a tough road ahead to make the 53-man roster.
This might have shocked more than a few fans and pundits, particularly when considering a need to identify either an upgrade over, or a long-term replacement for, veteran center Jake Brendel.
So, why didn't the Niners grab a replacement center for Brendel?
Turns out, they may already have one on their roster.
With a mere two weeks left in the 2024 regular season, San Francisco engineered an under-the-radar move that likely went unnoticed by the bulk of the fanbase: signing offensive lineman Matt Hennessy off the Atlanta Falcons' practice squad.
Normally, that wouldn't raise an eyebrow. But, the 49ers inked the 2020 third-round draftee out of Temple to a two-year deal, not a non-guaranteed pay-per-game contract to close out 2024. And, of that two-year contract, Hennessy carries $427,500 in guaranteed money in 2025, which pretty much ensures he'll make the 53-man roster.
"I know that we liked him coming out of college," head coach Kyle Shanahan told Sports Illustrated's Grant Cohn after the Niners inked Hennessy last December. "He's done a good job there in Atlanta. I was really pumped to get him in this situation at this time."
The 27-year-old Hennessy appeared in 45 games with Atlanta over a four-year stretch, starting 22 of them, and he also managed to appear in two games for San Francisco after signing.
As for Brendel, whose current contract expires in 2027 but carries zero in guaranteed money after 2025, it's feasible the 49ers are eyeing Hennessy as a potential replacement.
Just as Brendel was seen as an under-the-radar replacement for now-retired center Alex Mack, one might assume the Niners are following a similar path with Hennessy in line to take over for Brendel as soon as next year.
