Former 49ers starting OL heading to Lions in free agency
The 49ers are losing an offensive lineman who entered 2025 as a starter.
SANTA CLARA, CA - NOVEMBER 24: Ben Bartch #78 of the San Francisco 49ers blocks during the game against the Carolina Panthers at Levi's Stadium on November 24, 2025 in Santa Clara, California. The 49ers defeated the Panthers 20-9. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images) | Getty Images The San Francisco 49ers are losing one of their offensive linemen from last year, as former starting left guard Ben Bartch is heading to the Detroit Lions in free agency, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Bartch, 27, played in just six games for the 49ers this season, as he continued to deal with injuries this season. After starting the year as the team’s starter at left guard, Bartch exited Week 2 with an ankle injury that placed him on Injured Reserve and cost him seven weeks. He returned in Week 10 and rotated in with Spencer Burford at left guard, playing around 50 percent of the snaps, but then suffered a foot injury that cost him the rest of the season.
San Francisco did not re-sign either Bartch or Burford this offseason, with the latter going to the Las Vegas Raiders and the former now heading to the Lions. Instead, the 49ers did add former Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman Brett Toth to a one-year, $2. 5 million deal with $2.
215 million guaranteed. While Toth was primarily a backup last year, he did start four games, and currently projects to compete with 2025 seventh-round pick Connor Colby for the starting left guard job. San Francisco could look to the draft to fill the vacancy, but it doesn’t appear they’ll look for a more established option at their biggest hole along the offensive line.