Zane Beadles grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah, which meant the San Francisco 49ers were a familiar franchise to the 315-pound offensive lineman.
And when it came time for Beadles to sign with his third NFL franchise during the 2016 free-agency period, playing closer to his friends and family in a zone-blocking, up-tempo offense was all very appealing.
And then there was Joe Staley.
The allure of playing next to a five-time Pro Bowl offensive tackle proved to be one of the strongest factors in Beadles' decision to sign a three-year contract with the San Francisco 49ers earlier this week.
"Joe definitely had a good role in it, that's for sure," Beadles, a 2012 Pro Bowl selection at guard, said on the 49ers Radio podcast. "I'm really looking forward to playing with Joe. We have the same representation, and we've gotten to meet each other over the years.
"I have huge respect for the way he plays the game and the way he carries himself. I'm excited to be able to play with him and learn from him – he's a great pro. Hopefully I can bring some knowledge myself and we can improve as a unit and as a team."
Beadles' conversations with Staley touched on the 49ers organization and the tackle's first impressions of Chip Kelly's coaching staff.
"He had great things to say, and (he) got me really fired up about it," Beadles said of Staley, who is entering his 10th season and is San Francisco's longest-tenured player. "The more and more I learned about the organization, the scheme and the coaching staff, I just thought it would be a great fit."
As Beadles and Staley's discussions continued, the incoming free agent began to envision himself playing for an NFC team for the first time in his seven-year NFL career.
Beadles is now preparing for his first offseason in the Bay Area, which will officially begin on April 4 at the start of the team's voluntary offseason strength and conditioning program.
There, the 29-year-old lineman will look to assert himself as a potential starter at left guard, a position he's made a combined 94 starts for the Denver Broncos and Jacksonville Jaguars. If he wins the job, Beadles would once against reap the benefits of playing next to an established Pro Bowl-caliber player like Staley.
So what is it like for an established guard to play next to an elite tackle?
"It's great," said Beadles, who played alongside four-time Pro Bowl tackle Ryan Clady for his four seasons in Denver. "(It's) somebody that knows what they're doing. (It's) somebody that knows how to play o-line and knows how to work together with whoever is next to them. it makes it easier on all of us. I tell people all the time that the offensive line is the only position on the field where all five of us have to be working together for any one of us to be successful.
"Playing next to a guy like Joe who has played at a high level for many years and has been very consistent with it, it makes things easier on really the whole line, but really the guys who are playing next to him."
For more get-to-know-you questions on Beadles, enjoy the full 13-minute podcast conversation.
Interview topics include:
(1:24) What was it like growing up in Salt Lake City, Utah?
(2:57) How has he remained so durable in his collegiate and professional careeer?
(4:00)What was it like playing with Peyton Manning?
(5:00) Why is the Zane Beadles Parade Foundation such an important part of your life?
(8:28) What is the free-agency process really like?
(10:50) What is your favorite new music?
(11:20) What is your go-to TV show?
(11:35) What is your March Madness pick?
(11:50) What is your favorite NBA team?
(12:10) Do you have any hidden talents?
(12:40) Did you watch former teammate Von Miller on "Dancing with the Stars?"
