RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 1 sourcesDominick Puni is the only San Francisco 49ers guard to crack Pro Football Focus' ranking of the league's top 32 at the position, landing at No. 14 with a 69.2 grade last season. He tied for the team lead with 1,235 snaps played and allowed just two sacks all season, one of which came in the postseason.
It continues a pattern of outside recognition for Puni. Bleacher Report named him the 49ers' most promising building block again this offseason , citing his rookie breakout and the trust San Francisco has placed in him at right guard. CBS Sports went a step further, tabbing Puni as the 49ers' top breakout candidate for 2026 as he enters his third pro season.
That Puni stands alone among 49ers guards on PFF's list underscores the bigger question mark on San Francisco's offensive line: left guard remains unsettled entering training camp . Connor Colby, veteran addition Robert Jones and fourth-round rookie Carver Willis are all competing for the job, with Brett Toth also in the mix. Colby has taken the early lead, getting first-team reps on Day 1 of camp after starting six games there as a rookie last season, but nothing is settled.
None of the three had enough of a track record last season to qualify for PFF's guard rankings, which is precisely the problem. With quarterback Brock Purdy set to develop more after an injury-plagued 2025 season and Christian McCaffrey needing consistent running lanes, the 49ers can't afford a second liability up front. Puni's ranking is effectively the bar the winner of the left guard battle needs to approach — and right now, nobody on the other side of the line is close.
This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: 49ers only place one player in top 32 PFF rankings at this position
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