In Kyle Shanahan’s system, the center is paramount. The 49ers have had several centers during Shanahan’s time, including Weston Richburg, Alex Mack, Hroniss Grasu, Ben Garland, and Jake Brendel. In 2018, Shanahan and John Lynch targeted Richburg and signed him to a five-year, $47.5 million contract. Unfortunately, following two serious injuries, Richburg retired from the NFL, leaving the 49ers to continue their search for a starting center.

2020 began with Grasu starting at center for the first time in his career, but Garland would fill in for five games, and the position would see a few players stepping in due to injuries and poor play.

Shanahan and Lynch would bring in Alex Mack for the 2021 season, with Shanahan’s familiarity with the former Falcons center providing a “hit the ground running” acquisition. After one season, Mack would retire from football.

For the past three seasons, Brendel has held the position with varying levels of success. In two of Brendel’s seasons, the 49ers qualified for two NFC Championship games and came within a few plays of winning a Super Bowl.

2024 was a down season for Brendel, who ranks at the bottom of the pass protection rankings in several metrics for all centers in the NFL. Brendel’s contract, in comparison to his value added, makes his deal a low-cost, fair-value reward, but the 49ers need more from the position in 2025.

Now, this offseason provides an opportunity for the 49ers to address the position with a top-end center hitting the market. The question will be: will the 49ers invest top dollar into the center position or continue to sign low-cost players to return fair rewards?

Atlanta Falcons center Drew Dalman will be available, and the 49ers would be wise to sign the 26-year-old to a top-flight deal and address the position for years to come.

Bradley Locker of Pro Football Focus makes the case for Dalman.

“A top-tier center hitting free agency isn’t as common as one would expect, but Dalman certainly qualifies — and will get rewarded. Among centers with 500 or more snaps this year, the former Falcon ranked fourth in PFF overall grade (78.8), rounding that out with top-10 grades as both a pass blocker and a run blocker. Over the past two seasons, only four centers have produced a higher PFF overall grade than Dalman (84.8).

Just 26, Dalman could easily become one of the three highest-paid centers in the NFL, leapfrogging Lloyd Cushenberry III ($12.5 million AAV) last offseason.”

This opportunity to sign a top-end offensive lineman, particularly at center, which is an impactful position in Shanahan’s system, doesn’t come around often. With the 49ers set to extend their franchise quarterback, it is time to invest in fully protecting their investment.

Drew Dalman should be a priority for the 49ers. His signing could help the team focus on different positions in the draft to strengthen the roster further.