The San Francisco 49ers have had one of the busiest offseasons of any team in the league. Preparing for the extension for Brock Purdy, the organization had to move around a lot of money and contracts. As a result, a ton of proven veterans on the roster were either traded or let go. Eventually, they succeeded in signing their quarterback to a big-money extension.
But the process of building a contender around him is far from over. San Francisco has a ton of solid pieces around him already. However, arguably the best player on the entire team, Trent Williams, is nearing retirement. On the other side of 35, the 49ers need a contingency plan for the offensive line after him, leading one analyst to link them to one of the best linemen in the country in the 2026 NFL Draft.
How Will the San Francisco 49ers Fare Without Trent Williams?
Last year, injuries plagued the entire 49ers roster, leading to a dreadful six-win campaign a year after losing in overtime of the Super Bowl to the Kansas City Chiefs. Christian McCaffrey and the defense suffered the most, but the offensive line wasn’t far behind.
Overall, they finished 15th on PFSN’s OL+ metric, a relatively respectable margin. However, once Williams went down with an injury, the unit struggled, surrendering four games (out of seven total) with a grade of D+ or worse.
After turning 37 this offseason, it is a situation that is inevitably in San Francisco’s near future. As a result, the latest mock draft from PFSN is linking them to find an insurance policy when Williams decides to call it quits on a legendary career.
Brentley Weissmam believes Austin Barber, from Florida, is the best man for the job. But first, he stressed the franchise’s need to find a replacement for Williams as the sole reason for the selection.
“San Francisco will soon have to prepare for life without Trent Williams. He very well could retire after this season, and the team has very few options behind him. If Williams does indeed choose that path, adding a franchise left tackle will be a priority for them in the draft.”
Two seasons into his tenure, Barber has already shown incredible talent as both a pass and run blocker. As a result, Weissman believes he could be the ideal player to replace Williams, with a special emphasis on his intangibles.
Austin Barber was a tackle that I liked a lot. He’s at least average at pretty much everything and is a plus athlete. Super high floor prospect that understands the position well. pic.twitter.com/GMvPWorojF
— Benjamin Hodge (@benjaminwhodge) June 18, 2025
As a result, Weissman believes he could be the ideal player to replace Williams, with a special emphasis on his intangibles.
“Florida’s Austin Barber is an excellent athlete who has proven to be a winning player in the SEC. He offers good balance, power, and hand use — all while showcasing an impressive ability to mirror in pass protection. He would be an excellent insert at left tackle to protect Brock Purdy’s blind side.”
Losing Trent Williams will be a huge blow to the 49ers. But if general manager John Lynch has proven anything over the years, it’s that he’s going to have a trick up his sleeve. Perhaps Barber could be that trick this time around.
