The 49ers don’t play young centers, so why’d they sign Drake Nugent as an undrafted free agent?

Since Kyle Shanahan has been the 49ers head coach, he has acquired three starting centers: Weston Richburg, Alex Mack and Jake Brendel. Richburg and Mack both were veteran free-agent signings who started right away for the 49ers. Brendel was 28 when the 49ers signed him, and he didn’t become a starter until he was 30.

Which brings us back to Nugent. No one will confuse him with Richburg or Mack, who were high draft picks. But it’s possible Nugent could take Brendel’s route to the 49ers’ 53-man roster. Brendel was an undrafted free agent who spent time on practice squads with the Cowboys and Broncos. He developed slowly, but he developed, and now he’s a serviceable starter because he’s quick, he’s smart and he’s strong enough. Intelligence is key for the 49ers’ centers because they set the protection schemes before each play, not the quarterback.

Nugent is extremely intelligent — he went to Stanford before transferring to Michigan. Plus he played for Jim Harbaugh, so he has experience in an NFL scheme. He’s just a bit small right now. He needs to spend a few years in the weight room and learn the ins and outs of the 49ers offensive system so he can be an expert in it if he ever gets on the field.

Remember, centers have to be the most cerebral player on the field for the 49ers offense. Nugent’s education begins now.