The 49ers entered the offseason with offensive line improvements among their top priorities. With uncertainty surrounding Williams' future, that need has become even more pressing. Several recent 2026 NFL mock drafts project San Francisco using its first-round pick on an offensive lineman—potentially a long-term successor to Williams.
Kadyn Proctor a potential 49ers target
Pro Football Focus analyst Gordon McGuinness released his latest mock draft and has the 49ers selecting former Alabama offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor with the No. 27 overall pick.
"With questions swirling about Trent Williams' future in San Francisco, the 49ers could replace him with another huge offensive tackle," McGuinness wrote. "Proctor, not yet 21 years old, was one of seven FBS tackles to earn an 80.0-plus PFF grade in pass blocking and run blocking in 2025."
Proctor posted career-best grades during the 2025 season, earning an 86.1 overall offensive grade, an 81.1 run-blocking grade, and an 84.2 pass-blocking grade. The 6-foot-7, 352-pound tackle allowed 21 pressures and two sacks across 611 pass-blocking snaps.
At the NFL Scouting Combine, Proctor ran a 5.21-second 40-yard dash with a 1.84-second 10-yard split, while also posting a 32.5-inch vertical jump and a 9-foot-1 broad jump.
Monroe Freeling another 49ers possibility
Meanwhile, Pro Football and Sports Network's Reese Decker published his three-round mock draft and has San Francisco selecting former Georgia offensive tackle Monroe Freeling in the first round.
"The San Francisco 49ers are listening to trade offers for legendary left tackle Trent Williams," Decker wrote. "Even if he remains in San Francisco, Williams will turn 38 in July, making now the perfect time to plan for his replacement.
"Monroe Freeling is a calm, poised prospect with elite agility, fluid feet, exceptional bend, a powerful anchor, and plays with a nasty edge in his game. While he has only 16 career starts, he has the potential to acclimate to the NFL while learning behind a future first-ballot Hall of Famer."
Freeling (6-foot-7, 315 pounds) earned an impressive 85.7 pass-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus in 2025, allowing just three sacks and nine pressures across 469 pass-blocking snaps. More than 82 percent of his collegiate snaps came at left tackle, making him a natural long-term replacement for Williams.
At the NFL Scouting Combine, Freeling posted a 4.93-second 40-yard dash with a 1.71-second 10-yard split, along with a 33.5-inch vertical jump and a 9-foot-7 broad jump.
Decker also has San Francisco addressing another need in the second round, projecting former Georgia wide receiver Zachariah Branch to the team with the No. 58 overall pick.
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