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When you have a center — like the 49ers do in Weston Richburg — who has had serious lower-body injuries in the past two years, you need a solid backup option. The 49ers found that last season in Ben Garland, and on Wednesday, they ensured he’ll stick around.
Richburg tore his patella tendon in his right knee on December 9 against the New Orleans Saints, and played through the majority of the 2018 season with a torn right quadricep. It was a massive concern at the time, but Garland impressed down the stretch and through the Super Bowl, proving he was a more than capable backup option.
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the 49ers have re-signed Garland, who can also play guard, on a one-year, $2.25 million deal.
The #49ers are re-signing center Ben Garland on a 1-year deal worth $2.25M, source said.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 18, 2020
Garland quickly confirmed the news on social media.
Can’t help but smile, I’m so happy to announce that I will be signing back with the @49ers this year. #grateful @ Levi's Stadium https://t.co/dzW6QpNq9s
— Ben Garland (@BenGarland63) March 18, 2020
For anyone hoping the 49ers would draft an offensive lineman early on, this all but puts those suspicions to bed. As explained here, Richburg still has plenty of money due to him and Mike Person’s value probably still outweighs his cost. The 49ers have Justin Skule, Shon Coleman and Daniel Brunskill as backup options in addition to Garland now, so the offensive line reinforcement through the draft is likely a better bet for next season.
