Invader49er: Should fans appreciate Jake Brendel more?
Those fans on social media who think the 49ers have employed a tomato can at center for the past four seasons? Brendel suffers from Mike McGlinchey Syndrome. Like the 49ers former right tackle, Brendel (299 pounds) is a bit undersized for his position and occasionally has lowlight-reel snaps in which he’s bullied backwards.
Also like McGlinchey: NFL talent evaluators disagree with @Ninerz4evah and @fireshanahan when assessing Brendel’s value. In 2023, after supposedly stinking for five seasons with the 49ers, McGlinchey signed a five-year, $87.5 million contract with the Broncos. In 2023, Brendel signed a four-year, $20 million deal with the 49ers after he received contract offers from three other teams, with the Jets enlisting QB Aaron Rodgers to recruit him with a one-hour phone call.
Shanahan rarely criticizes players publicly, but he also doesn’t tend to offer lofty praise that isn’t merited. Last month, he termed Brendel, a UCLA economics major, one of the NFL’s top centers and said he’s never had a center any better when it comes to making pre-snap blocking adjustments. That’s crucial in Shanahan’s system because almost all those duties are handled by the center, not the QB, and the 49ers’ extensive use of motion creates defensive movement that adds to Brendel’s workload.
That was my question to Eric Branch. I bet you didn't know Aaron Rodgers wanted Brendel.
Jake Brendel ranked 24th in pressure rate at 3.99%
Tyler Linderbaum ranked 31st in pressure rate at 4.85%
