Summary

Ben Bartch was drafted in the 4th round of the 2020 NFL Draft (pick 116) out of Saint John’s University (MN). Bartch is an intelligent, athletic interior lineman with intriguing upside and strong technical fundamentals. His background as a small-school prospect who successfully transitioned to the NFL reflects his adaptability and work ethic. When healthy, he’s a reliable starter or valuable depth piece capable of excelling in zone-blocking systems due to his agility and mobility.

However, injuries and a need for greater strength and leverage consistency have limited his long-term impact thus far. If he can stay healthy and continue building functional power, Bartch still has the tools to be a solid starter or dependable rotational guard in the NFL.

Strengths

Athleticism & movement skills

• Despite his size, Bartch shows very good lateral mobility, quickness, and balance for an offensive lineman — especially given his background as a tight end. Bleacher Report

• His posture in pass protection and ability to “sit” in his stance with good lower-body mobility have been praised. Bleacher Report

• He retains some of the “tight-end agility” which allows him to get to linebackers in the second level and move in space better than many linemen with a more “traditional” OL background. San Francisco Chronicle

High upside & developmental traits

• Coming from a Division III school and converting from tight end, Bartch entered the NFL with a lower ceiling of expectations and thus plenty of growth potential. Beyond Strength

• Coaches and analysts have noted his work ethic, willingness to learn, and physical tools as giving him the chance to become a quality starter. Niners Nation

Run-blocking strength & second-level ability

• He has shown solid run-block grades in recent PFF data (e.g., run-blocking grade ~76.4) which suggests he can handle movement to the second level and road-grind in the run game. PFF

• In games where he’s been healthy and given a chance, he’s shown the ability to contribute to productive rushing attacks. Niners Nation

Weaknesses

Experience & technique refinement

• Because he only converted to the offensive line in college (after playing tight end) and didn’t face the same level of competition at Division III, there have been concerns about his technical polish and experience. Bleacher Report

• For example: his hand usage, his “latch-on” grip strength, consistency in finishing blocks, and avoiding positional mistakes have been flagged. Bleacher Report

Pass-protection and anchoring against elite power/strength

• While his athleticism is a strength, there have been questions whether he has the functional strength, pad level and anchoring to reliably handle powerful interior rushers and elite pass-rushers in the NFL. Bleacher Report

• He’s had tendencies at times to over-spread his base in pass sets, making him vulnerable to inside counters or sharper rushers. Bleacher Report

Injuries & consistency

• Health has been a recurring issue: Bartch has missed time with significant injuries (including knee issues) which has limited his ability to build consistency and continuity. Niners Nation

• The limited sample size at full starter workload leaves some uncertainty about how he holds up over a full season.

Fit & Outlook

Bartch is a compelling “upside” offensive-lineman on a good team. If he can stay healthy and refine his technique (especially in pass protection), he has the tools to be a solid starting guard — particularly in a scheme that values mobility and second-level play (which suits his background). The jump is as much about the mental/technical side (hand placement, finish, consistency) and durability as it is about physical tools.

For the San Francisco 49ers, he represents a low-risk, potentially high-reward option internally. If he starts for them and puts it all together, he could become a reliable starter. If not, the injury and experience questions remain hurdles.