Niners Nation
Ideally, Brock Purdy knows who is blocking for him over the next few seasons. Hopefully, that’s Trent Williams. But what if it’s not?
The 49ers have several roster holes to fill based on age or talent. While the players needing replacement are still very effective, the future must be addressed in the draft or free agency this offseason. The line of holding on to talent before the cliff comes is hard to gauge. On the one hand, you can’t get rid of talent because of age, but it’s hard to know when the eventual decline comes.
For instance, Trent Williams is the best offensive tackle in football and possibly in the history of the NFL. But how long can the 49ers afford to bank on his uncanny run before addressing his placeholder at left tackle? Could this be Williams’ last season, or is the future Hall of Famer contemplating retirement this offseason?
The 49ers are already in the midst of a chaotic offseason, which features a potential Deebo Samuel trade and a likely Brock Purdy extension. However, the most overarching question might just be about whether Williams will play in 2025.
The 36-year-old was fantastic yet again, even in a shortened 2024 season. Williams notched PFF pass- and run-blocking grades above 81.4, permitting only one sack on 381 pass-blocking snaps. At the same time, Williams didn’t play after Week 11 due to an ankle injury, and retirement very much appears to be on the table.
Whether or not Williams suits up next season, general manager John Lynch will likely look to land a potential starter down the line at left tackle. But if Williams retires, that would make left tackle arguably the 49ers’ biggest need, trumping cornerback, edge defender, and linebacker, as the team would need an instant starter to protect Purdy’s blindside.
If Williams decides to return in 2025, which is very likely, then the position could wait another season. However, given the 49ers’ track record of being proactive in the draft (Talanoa Hufanga starting at safety comes to mind), it is likely the team will look to fill the position before Williams’ decision comes down.
The 49ers had the most unlikely outcome following Joe Staley’s retirement. Staley alerted the team to his decision, and the 49ers struck a deal with Washington to bring in Williams on draft day. In terms of passing the baton, the 49ers upgraded from a future Hall of Famer to another.
There is no way to duplicate the process in 2020 with Staley to Williams, given the caliber of players, but the team needs to find Williams’s replacement quickly.
