The San Francisco 49ers had a rough 2024 NFL season. They battled injuries, underperformed, and fell far short of expectations. In the end, they finished last in the NFC West with a 6-11 record.
The offseason didn’t make things any easier. San Francisco lost key players across the roster. Linebacker Dre Greenlaw signed with the Denver Broncos, and defensive tackle Javon Hargrave joined the Minnesota Vikings. Perhaps the biggest move came when star wide receiver Deebo Samuel was traded to the Washington Commanders for draft picks.
These changes sparked a new debate: Who is the 49ers’ best player now?
Who Is the Best Player on the 49ers?
Pro Football and Sports Network analyst Jacob Infante broke down each NFL team’s best player heading into 2025. For the 49ers, a few big names were in the mix.
Quarterback Brock Purdy is a strong candidate. He recently signed a massive contract extension, showing how much the organization believes in him. Then there’s tight end George Kittle, a veteran who’s still one of the best at his position, even as he moves into the later stages of his career.
But Infante didn’t go with either of them.
Instead, he picked veteran offensive lineman Trent Williams.
Trent Williams nearly blocked Steven Nelson back to his own bench. Sheesh #49ers pic.twitter.com/KmFqMd5djp
— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) September 20, 2021
“Williams has been an elite offensive tackle throughout much of his tenure in the NFL. The only reason he missed the Pro Bowl in 2024 for the first time since 2011 was due to injury, but he was right on All-Pro pace had he stayed healthy. An ageless wonder who turns 37 in July, he’s a future first-ballot Hall of Famer and still one of the best offensive linemen in the game today,” Infante wrote.
Williams started his career in Washington, where he played for nine seasons. He earned seven Pro Bowl selections and became one of the most dominant offensive linemen in football.
But things fell apart between Williams and the team. He requested a trade in 2020, and after months of tension, Washington dealt him to the 49ers during the NFL Draft. San Francisco sent back a fifth-round pick in 2020 and a third-rounder in 2021.
That deal turned out to be a huge win for the 49ers.
Williams didn’t just maintain his level of play—he got even better. He made four consecutive Pro Bowls from 2020 to 2023 and earned First-Team All-Pro honors each year from 2021 to 2023.
His impact helped the 49ers make deep playoff runs. San Francisco reached the NFC Championship Game three straight times from 2021 to 2023 and made the Super Bowl in the 2023 season. They lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 25-22 in overtime, but Williams’ performance stood out all year long.
Now, the 49ers are trying to bounce back in 2025. If they want to return to the playoffs, they’ll need all their stars to perform at a high level. That starts with Williams, who will once again be responsible for protecting Purdy and anchoring the offensive line.