So how are the nine mistakes made ahead of Josh Rosen doing?
By John Buhler
Mike McGlinchey has good genes. His older cousin is Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan, who too was a top-10 selection a decade prior to McGlinchey going No. 9 overall to the San Francisco 49ers. McGlinchey joined his college teammate in Indianapolis Colts guard Quenton Nelson as top-10 picks out of the University of Notre Dame.
Though he hasn’t been to a Pro Bowl yet, it feels like the 49ers have enjoyed the production McGlinchey has provided them at offensive tackle. Like his cousin’s blind side protector in Atlanta in Jake Matthews, McGlinchey is solid in helping keep his quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo upright. Of course, McGlinchey has already played in a Super Bowl in only his second season in the league.
What makes this pick better than the one the Arizona Cardinals honestly wasted on Rosen is how incredibly difficult it is to develop an offensive lineman in this age of professional football. Practices are rarely padded and linemen don’t get to hit like the used to. As for quarterbacks, the game has never been designed more to yield success for them than it is now.
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With McGlinchey’s competitive viability and overall team success, it is safe to say that every single pick made ahead of Rosen was better than what the Cardinals did at No. 10. Quenton Nelson, Saquon Barkley and Denzel Ward were the best picks. Bradley Chubb, Roquan Smith and Josh Allen look to be of quality. Even McGlinchey, Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold have all been better.