Three-time first-team All-Pro Trent Williams has been a cornerstone of the San Francisco 49ers' offensive line since arriving via trade in 2020. However, with Williams set to turn 38 before the upcoming season and no agreement yet in place, questions about his future have surfaced this offseason.
Williams remained highly productive last season, playing 996 snaps while allowing just four sacks and eight quarterback hits, along with committing four penalties. According to Pro Football Focus, he earned an elite 91.5 overall grade, ranking third among all offensive tackles.
Despite his continued performance, Williams is currently set to carry a cap hit of $47 million after the team declined his $10 million roster bonus. While a contract restructure could help ease that burden, the two sides have yet to reach an agreement, and given his age, there is growing sentiment that San Francisco should begin planning for a long-term replacement.
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The 49ers have already taken a step in that direction by adding Vederian Lowe as a depth option. Now, Luke Easterling of Athlon Sports projects a more aggressive move, predicting the team could trade up in the draft to select Monroe Freeling out of Georgia.
In the projected scenario, San Francisco would send the No. 27, No. 58, and No. 127 overall picks to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in exchange for the No. 15 overall selection.
"If you want one of this year’s top offensive tackle prospects, and you’re picking near the back of the first round, you’re gonna have to move up for one," Easterling wrote. "That’s the reality for a team like the 49ers, which needs a long-term succession plan at left tackle even if they’re able to work out a deal to bring back Trent Williams for the 2026 season.
"Freeling would be an ideal target, with the athleticism necessary to excel in Kyle Shanahan’s scheme, and the upside to eventually develop into an elite blocker with size, power and physicality."
Freeling, like Williams, plays left tackle and has impressed as a pass blocker despite limited experience. Across nearly 750 snaps, he allowed just five pressures, surrendering only one sack and zero quarterback hits. Notably, much of that production came while he was not fully healthy, further highlighting his high ceiling and the reason why San Francisco could be interested in such a move.
At 6-foot-7 and 315 pounds, Freeling combines size with elite athleticism, posting a 4.93-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. While he still needs to improve as a run blocker and add strength to handle NFL power rushers, he projects as a strong long-term option for San Francisco as they look to remain contenders behind quarterback Brock Purdy.
