T
he San Francisco 49ers solved their biggest issue this offseason. Entering the offseason in another contract standoff with star left tackle, Trent Williams, the 49ers and Williams were at an impasse in negotiations, mostly stemming from the high cap number that he carried into the ’26 campaign. But all issues were eased on Monday, April 20, when the 49ers and Williams agreed to a two-year, $50 million extension, keeping him with the team through 2027. Now with left tackle solidified, at least for the next couple of years, that begs the big question– what will the 49ers do in the NFL Draft.
In need of more offensive line help, and Williams’ future murky before the extension, the expectation was that the 49ers would use a draft pick on a new left tackle, allowing them to get a guy who can develop and take over for Williams. But with the 49ers paying a hefty price to retain Williams, and never seeming to have a backup plan, taking a left tackle now seems out of the equation. But according to 49ers’ insider, Larry Krueger, offensive line help could still be on the way come draft time.
‘Help Trent Williams, Not Replace Him’
Taking to Twitter/X to break the news of Williams’ extension, Krueger gave his take on how the 49ers will approach the NFL Draft. And considering how the 49ers went all-in on keeping Williams, Krueger believes that the 49ers will look to add to the offensive line to help Williams keep playing at a high level– not find someone to replace him.
“It means that the Niners are not going offensive tackle in the draft,” Krueger said. “They could very well go offensive line but they’re going to try to help Trent Williams and not replace Trent Williams. How do you help Williams? You help him by getting a powerhouse guard like a Chase Bisontis. Bisontis from Texas A&M and Keylan Rutledge from Georgia Tech. I would say those are the two guys they could be choosing from at 27… Chase Bisontis or Keylan Rutledge, book it.”
Williams has been a key cog on the 49ers’ offensive line since he joined the team in 2020, being the reason why the 49ers’ offensive line has been formidable despite inconsistencies at the other spots. But if the 49ers add more help on the line, they could improve even more and see the offense reach new heights.
Other Options for the 49ers
While drafting help on the line would certainly be useful, other options for the 49ers in the first round include wide receiver, defensive back or trying to trade out of the first round for later round assets. Throughout the John Lynch/Kyle Shanahan era, the 49ers have gotten limited success out of first round draft picks and have found more gems in later round picks, such as George Kittle, Fred Warner and Brock Purdy. If the team trades out of the first round, it may mean they don’t get that top prospect that they need, but they can load up on developmental talent so that they have a longer window of contention.
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