Summary

Jake Brendel entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2016 after playing college football at UCLA Bruins, where he was a multi-year starter and earned Second-Team All-Pac-12 honors as a senior. Though his early career involved bouncing between practice squads (e.g. Cowboys, Dolphins, Broncos, Ravens), he eventually landed with the 49ers, and by 2022, he became their full-time starting center, starting all 17 games. Since then, he has remained a regular starter, including postseason play and a Super Bowl run. Brendel is regarded as a smart, dependable leader on the O-line credited for his communication, consistency, and understanding of pre-snap calls. Brendel was re-signed by the 49ers to a multiyear contract through 2026, showing organizational commitment despite some inconsistencies.

Strengths

• Intelligence & leadership: In college at UCLA, Brendel called protections and adjustments and coaches praised his ability to “get everyone on the same page,” even in tempo offenses.

• Reliability & durability: After years as a backup, since 2022 he’s been a consistent starter and has logged over 1,000 snaps at center for the 49ers.

• Awareness and technique in space: A required element from a blocker in a Shanahan offense, Brendel’s ability to turn and steer defenders and handle linebackers on reach blocks or second-level efforts when pulling or in zone/running schemes is immense.

• Professionalism: Described as dependable, coachable, and a mentally sharp glue guy, Brendel boasts traits that have helped him stick and eventually earn a starting role despite entering the league undrafted.

Weaknesses

• Limited athletic upside: It’s never awesome for a players when most of his strengths live in the realm of professionalism, intelligence, leadership, i.e. things you would put on your LinkedIn profile. While adequate in zone and movement schemes, Brendel lacks elite explosiveness or power to consistently dominate interior matchups — especially against length or heavy, powerful defenders

• Lack of ideal NFL-level “mauler” strength: Brendel exhibits a relatively slim build for a center which can limit his ability to dominate at the point of attack against powerful defensive tackles, especially when he’s upright or doesn’t get leverage.

• Leverage issues in pass protection: Because of his frame and occasional upright posture, Brendel can get jostled off his spot or lose balance in heavy pass rush or power-run situations.

• Penalties & pressures allowed under duress: In 2024, he recorded a relatively high number of pressures allowed and penalties.

Outlook

Brendel projects as a reliable, run-heavy zone center — especially in offenses and schemes that prioritize the ground game and utilize movement, zone-blocking, and quick-hitting play-action like Kyle Shanahan’s. His strengths as a communicator, run-blocker, and instinctive blocker make him well-suited to a system that emphasizes cohesion, timing, and coordination over brute strength. Given the 49ers’ commitment (re-signing him through 2026), his outlook is middling but serviceable: he likely remains a starter or key rotation piece for the next few seasons. However, his long-term ceiling seems limited: without improvements in pass protection and anchor strength, his role may stay as a complementary interior lineman rather than a dominant, top-tier center. Should he start to decline, or if the team shifts scheme emphasis, he could transition to a backup/mentor role — still offering value given his experience and leadership