Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
PFF: Trent Williams is the one free agent the 49ers can’t afford to lose
Jan 19, 2021 at 8:23 AM
•
Videos are auto-populated by an affiliate. This site has no control over the videos that appear above.
proved to be a good replacement for retired offensive tackle Joe Staley. In fact, Williams anchoring the offensive line's left side looked like an upgrade, and his addition was a bright spot in an otherwise depressing injury-plagued season for the defending NFC champions.
The only problem is that the San Francisco 49ers knew they were getting Williams with just one season left on his contract. Now, they'll need to find a way to ensure the veteran tackle becomes one of the top-paid offensive linemen in the league. Williams is one of nearly 40 Niners who played last season on the final year of their contracts.
Brad Spielberger of Pro Football Focus recently took a look at the 32 NFL teams and
named one impending free agent that each cannot afford to lose this offseason. For the 49ers, it was Williams.
"The 49ers pulled off a draft-day heist (something they've been quite good at in recent years) in acquiring Trent Williams from the Washington Football Team in exchange for a 2020 fifth-round and 2021 third-round pick," wrote Spielberger.
"Williams' extended absence from playing football was not evident on tape whatsoever, as he returned to form as one of the best tackles in the NFL. Williams had the highest run-blocking grade in the league among tackles (91.5) — an extremely important skill in Kyle Shanahan's outside zone run scheme. In addition, Williams also ranked ninth in pass-block grade at 85.6."
According to Pro Football Focus, Williams allowed four sacks this season, but none came after Week 5. He finished the season as the analytics site's highest-graded tackle and second-highest-graded offensive lineman.
"It's truly staggering that Williams could play at this high of a level after a full year off and with a new team," Spielberger continued, "especially after a limited offseason. Players this good are very hard to let go."
Pro Football Focus recently
predicted that Williams returns to the 49ers on a four-year, $80 million deal with $62.5 million total guaranteed and $45 million fully guaranteed at signing. However, Spielberger notes that the 49ers would not lose too much should team and player fail to strike a deal.
"Working in San Francisco's favor if they do decide to move on is the fact they will most likely earn a third-round compensatory pick in 2022 when (not if) Williams signs a massive deal elsewhere," added Spielberger. "So they can recoup the majority of their trade investment if they view Williams as just a rental."
Facebook Comments
More San Francisco 49ers News
Deebo Samuel and Brock Purdy are why the 49ers can afford to pay Brandon Aiyuk
It's evident that the San Francisco 49ers engaged in long-term financial planning. Much discussion has centered around the feasibility of the team committing significant financial resources to two wide receivers, Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel. Some skeptics question the wisdom of such heavy investment in a single position, especially considering that the 49ers handed Samuel a substantial three-year extension merely two years ago.
Adding complexity to this debate is the impending contract extension for quarterback Brock Purdy, positioning him to become the highest-paid player on the team. He will likely even become one of the NFL's highest-paid players. Where he ranks in average salary will depend upon whether he can replicate the stellar performance of his Pro Bowl 2023
PFF mock draft has 49ers adding cornerback with 'unique fluidity and size'
Analyst Steve Palazzolo unveiled a first-round mock draft for Pro Football Focus, attempting to forecast the selections for each NFL team within the top 32 picks. While the San Francisco 49ers concentrated on strengthening the defensive line in free agency, Palazzolo envisions the team continuing to fortify that side of the ball.
In his mock draft, Palazzolo predicts that the 49ers will select former Iowa State cornerback T.J. Tampa with the No. 31 overall pick.
"Tampa's unique fluidity and size for a cornerback make him worthy of a top-75 pick," reads the analysis from Pro Football Focus' big board. "If he can clean up his footwork, he can
PFF identifies 49ers draft fits in Day 2 and 3
The San Francisco 49ers have experienced success in the latter two days of the draft, discovering hidden gems capable of becoming key contributors. Some examples include tight end George Kittle in the fifth round in 2017, linebacker Fred Warner in the third round in 2018, wide receiver Deebo Samuel in the second round in 2019, and, famously, quarterback Brock Purdy with the final overall pick in 2022.
Pro Football Focus recently pinpointed one draft fit for each team on Day 2 and another for Day 3. Contributor Dalton Wasserman handled the duties for Day 2, zeroing in on former Oregon defensive lineman Brandon Dorlus, who can excel on the edge or interior in
PFF high on this cornerback for 49ers in mock draft
Analyst Dane Brugler of The Athletic grades former Iowa State cornerback T.J. Tampa as a second or third-round draft pick and ranks him 55th overall on his big board. Pro Football Focus, however, holds a higher opinion of the young defensive back. In his latest mock draft, the site's lead analyst, Sam Monson, has the San Francisco 49ers selecting Tampa with the No. 31 overall pick.
"T.J. Tampa fits the prototype of a 49ers cornerback," Monson explains. "He has had consecutive seasons of very impressive play and allowed just 240 yards on 49 targets last season. The team doesn't necessarily need him to make an immediate impact, but they could
