Williams boasts a respectable 86.0 offensive grade this year, ranking him 10th among all offensive linemen. However, this is his lowest grade since joining the 49ers. His 84.2 run-blocking grade also marks a decline over the past five seasons. Last season, Williams allowed 18 pressures (excluding the playoffs), and through just seven games this year, he has already given up 12, according to Pro Football Focus.
Williams missed all of training camp due to a contract dispute, only reporting to the team just before the first regular-season game. Given these factors and the fact that he's now 36 years old, it's reasonable to consider whether this slight decline is reflected in Pro Football Focus' analytics. However, one 49ers coach isn't convinced.
"Yes, he's fine," said run game coordinator and offensive line coach Chris Foerster. "He's been playing as well as he's ever played. There might be some protections, but I thought it was the same as last year. And some things are actually better than a year ago."
Regarding Pro Football Focus' analysis, Foerster commented, "Who knows what it is? I don't know their scales. At least it's consistent. So, whatever they grade him as, and however they do it, I'm not there to discuss theirs. But I know that, definitely, from our perspective, to me, he's playing the same as he played a year ago."
Foerster emphasized that he doesn't like to compare players, so he's not ready to declare Williams the best in the game. He concluded, "I'm not doing that, but I do know he's playing almost exactly the same as he played a year ago."
Tight end George Kittle echoed Foerster's assessment, stating, "I think Trent, on a bad day, is still better than 31 other teams' left tackles. So, I'm not saying that Trent has bad days, but Trent is still playing at a high level for us, which is awesome because we need that."
Following a disappointing Week 7 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, Williams and the 49ers are preparing for Sunday's game against the Dallas Cowboys, aiming to climb out of the 3-4 hole they've dug themselves into.
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
Trent Williams: Mike Evans, De'Zhaun Stribling can elevate the 49ers offense
The biggest offensive acquisition for the San Francisco 49ers this offseason was Mike Evans, the longtime Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver. He's expected to make a significant impact, potentially providing quarterback Brock Purdy with the best boundary target and red-zone... -
49ers' Trent Williams explains why Deebo Samuel could be better than ever
Tackle Trent Williams is among the many San Francisco 49ers players excited to have wide receiver Deebo Samuel back on the roster. During Thursday night's broadcast of the preseason game against the Tennessee Titans, the veteran offensive lineman went so far as to say that the... -
Trent Williams makes a bold claim about the 49ers' D-line in 2026
The San Francisco 49ers' defensive front struggled with consistency last season, unable to consistently stop the run or pressure opposing quarterbacks. That came despite the team's top decision-makers emphasizing the drafting of stout run defenders and investing in pass-rush... -
49ers coach provides Kurtis Rourke injury update and preseason evaluation
Quarterback Kurtis Rourke played well in his first NFL action, starting in last week's preseason opener against the Tennessee Titans. His playing time was cut short, however, after he suffered a rib injury in the second quarter. Initial evaluations did not reveal any...