The San Francisco 49ers have shied away from taking an offensive lineman in the first round in recent years, electing to move forward without a future replacement for star left tackle Trent Williams.
Williams has continued to play at a high level, so there hasn’t been the need to replace him yet, but he will be 38 this upcoming season and will need a new contract as his three-year extension ran through the 2025 season.
On the interior, the 49ers have spent Day 2 picks on offensive linemen (Dominick Puni, Aaron Banks), but they haven’t found that Williams replacement at offensive tackle, despite having the ability to draft one in previous years. Is 2026 finally the year?
In his latest mock draft, NFL.com’s Bucky Brooks had the 49ers taking Georgia offensive lineman Monroe Freeling, whom he views as a successor to Williams.
“At 37 years old, left tackle Trent Williams is nearing the end of a Hall of Fame career — which makes finding an eventual successor a top priority,” Brooks wrote. “Freeling is far from a polished product, but his physical tools and upside make him an intriguing developmental prospect.”
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein compared him to Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Broderick Jones, who also hailed from Georgia, and had the following to say about Freeling:
“Freeling offers coveted length and athleticism at right tackle,” Zierlein wrote. “With only 16 career starts, filling out his frame and improving his technique should be early priorities. His quickness brings first-phase positioning advantages, but he needs more play strength to carry that over to block sustain and finish.”
“Lunging and deadening feet post-punch must be coached out of his muscle memory in pass protection so his athleticism and length can do their jobs. Independent hand usage and a reliable “snatch and trap” could instantly bolster his success rate. There is some buyer beware on tape, but if smoothed out, he has the ceiling of a quality NFL starter.”
At 6’7, 315 pounds, Freeling has some quality size for an offensive tackle. And the 49ers have looked to draft for future needs in recent years. But there are quite a few holes to fill this offseason, and San Francisco has only drafted offensive linemen if they view those prospects as an ideal fit in their scheme.
If there’s confidence Trent Williams will play multiple seasons still, then the 49ers may prolong the decision to draft a replacement for their star and look to address another need (perhaps wide receiver?) in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
The 49ers haven’t drafted an offensive tackle prospect on Day 1 or 2 of the NFL Draft since taking Mike McGlinchey No. 9 overall in 2018. Perhaps Freeling can buck that trend.
