Trent Williams is under contract through the 2026 season, but the contract voids after that. So, unless the 49ers extend the then 38-year-old, we have one season left to watch a Hall of Fame left tackle.
You’ll always hear about the great organizations getting out a year ahead of the positional need. Theoretically, the 49ers can draft a left tackle this season, maybe he’s a better fit at left guard, and transition him back to left tackle once Williams hangs up the cleats.
It’s that time of year, which means ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has a mock draft. He has the 49ers addressing the offensive line in the first round, which should make many fans happy:
- San Francisco 49ers
Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
I recently moved Lomu into my top 25 rankings. He is really good in both pass protection
and run blocking, and his quickness is going to be an asset in the NFL. Could he be the
heir apparent for Trent Williams at left tackle? Williams will turn 38 this summer and has
just one year left on his deal. San Francisco can’t kick the can down the road too much
further on its long-term plan. Lomu had 24 career starts and allowed just three sacks
during that time — all in 2024.With Lomu joining Spencer Fano in this mock, we might see both Utah offensive tackles in
Round 1. We’ve had two OTs from the same school both go on Day 1 only four times in the
common draft era, most recently in 2020 with Georgia’s Andrew Thomas and Isaiah
Wilson, per ESPN Research.
Lomu is listed at 6’6, 308 pounds. The height isn’t an issue, but the weight is closer to the 30th percentile. He’s two pounds heavier than Colton McKivitz, and we’ve seen how his weight can be an issue when facing premier athletes.
I haven’t watched a second of Lomu, so I have no insight to offer about the player. PFF grades him at 68.3. He has a 62.0 run blocking grade and an 82.1 pass protection grade. It’s worth noting that he did struggle against the one quality defensive line he faced, Texas Tech, surrendering multiple pressures and a quarterback hit.
Some draft analysts say he falls in the line of Jake Matthews, where he’s polished from a technical standpoint with great athleticism. At 21, that is a player you can plug and play, especially in a zone scheme that’ll highlight his mobility.
