Tampa Bay’s Ben Bredeson would be an upgrade from Aaron Banks and a relatively cheap option
The San Francisco 49ers will weigh how important continuity is along the offensive line this offseason, considering potential upgrades.
Fans will be vocal about replacing center Jake Brendel and right tackle Colton McKivitz, but the Niners have both players under contract through at least 2025. While you don’t need much to make a convincing argument the team could stand to upgrade at each position, let’s focus on left guard today.
The 49ers drafted Aaron Banks in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft. His contract is up, so he is an unrestricted free agent.
Banks, who doesn’t turn 28 until September, has consistently started for the 49ers during the previous three seasons. Unfortunately, his snap count has dropped each year since 2022. Statistically, 2024 was Banks’s worse year. He battled injuries, and that showed in his lack of mobility. He had career worsts in blown block percentages as a run and pass blocker.
Furthermore, it was evident that Ben Bartch thoroughly outplayed Banks during his brief playing time. Bartch is also a free agent. It would make sense to let Banks walk and potentially get back a Day 3 compensatory pick in next year’s draft.
So, the question becomes should the 49ers look to re-sign Bartch to a minimum deal and bring in competition in the middle rounds at left guard? Sign another veteran and risk canceling out the comp pick formula once Banks signs elsewhere?
Let’s talk about one option that would make sense for all parties.
A stopgap from the NFC South
The best guards available this offseason all play on the right side. In a dream world, the 49ers shell out money to right guard Trey Smith of the Kansas City Chiefs, center Drew Dalman of the Atlanta Falcons, switch Dominick Puni to the left side, draft a tackle who starts his career on the right side until Trent Williams hangs ‘em up, and entire the 2025 season with arguably the best offense in the NFL when healthy.
But this isn’t a video game, and moving Puni after a successful season to the left side is a difficult ask. So if we’re focusing in on players who make sense and are available on the market, Tampa Bay Buccaneers left guard Ben Bredeson jumps to the top of the list.
Bredeson, who turns 27 in February, signed a one-year deal last offseason with Tampa Bay. In 2023 with the New York Giants, Bredeson had threee starts at left guard, five at center, and eight starts at right guard. Chris Foerster would love that versatility.
For Tampa Bay last season, Bredeson played 98.8 percent of the snaps. As we know, availabilty is key. In the event that somebody goes down or you need to mix and match your offensive line, Bredeson could play any of the interior spots in a pinch.
The Bucs’ were a zone-heavy running team under first-year offensive coordinator Liam Coen. Per Sports Info Solutions, 90.5 percent of Bredeson’s run blocking snaps in 2024 were a zone scheme.
Bredeson’s blown block percentage against the run was identical to Banks in 2024 on 133 more snaps, but he was noticeably better in pass protection. Bredeson is at 2.9 percent compared to 3.6 by Banks.
Above all, Bredeson wouldn’t break the bank. He’s coming off a season where his base salary was $1.6 million. It’s difficult to imagine the 49ers spending big on a left guard in free agency when there are other holes to fill, making Bredeson the ideal value signing and a player who could help.
Positional versatility, playing through the whistle with an edge, availability, and the price make Bredeson an appealing option.