There are a couple of clear weaknesses the San Francisco 49ers have to shore up on their offensive line if they’re going to revamp their roster back into one that can contend for a Super Bowl.
One of those is left guard, where they don’t have a starter with Aaron Banks hitting the unrestricted free agent market. The other is at center, where starter Jake Brendel is set to return after a rough couple of seasons.
Center has typically been an important position for head coach Kyle Shanahan, and it looked in 2022 like Brendel might have promise as the long-term answer for the 49ers at an affordable price. His pass blocking regressed in 2023 and 2024, which opened the door for an upgrade in front of quarterback Brock Purdy.
There’s a chance the 49ers look for that upgrade via the draft. They’ve never used an early pick on a center, opting instead for more experienced veteran options.
If they go that route again, Indianapolis Colts center Ryan Kelly may be the answer. Kelly, a four-time Pro Bowler, was listed as the most underrated center in this year’s free agency class by Pro Football Focus.
Via PFF:
Kelly played more than 600 snaps in each of his past seven seasons but did miss at least one game in four of his past five campaigns. His absence visibly impacted the Colts‘ offensive line, which was among the best when fully healthy.
Kelly is still among the best pass-blocking centers in the NFL and could solidify the interior of any offensive line. His 73.2 PFF pass-blocking grade over the past three seasons ranks fourth among 28 qualifying centers, while his 2.9% pressure rate allowed also ranks fourth.
The injury issues could give the 49ers pause, but the upside is tantalizing and it may help keep his cost in the range San Francisco can afford at the position.
Kelly, a first-round pick of the Colts in the 2016 draft, has played in 121 out of a possible 148 games across his nine-year career. He last played a full season in 2022 before missing three games in 2023 and seven in 2024.
Another potential hangup is his age. Kelly turns 32 in May, which eliminates him from being a long-term answer. Given the 49ers’ urgency in trying to win a Super Bowl in 2025, a plug-and-play free agent makes more sense than taking an immediate swing on a draft pick.
On the other hand, drafting a center early may still be the move for the 49ers if they don’t think they have a longer-term answer already on the roster. They need to find a player who can hold that position down for the foreseeable future whether they sign Kelly or not. Adding Kelly now may be their best chance to contend in the short-term, and that makes him a player the 49ers should kick tires on in free agency.