Photo courtesy of the San Francisco 49ers
Videos are auto-populated by an affiliate. This site has no control over the videos that appear above.
Naming the best player in the NFL can create much discussion and debate. If you ask San Francisco 49ers defenders, the answer isn't too difficult. Take
Dre Greenlaw, for instance. Greenlaw was recently asked about going against nine-time Pro Bowl offensive tackle
Trent Williams in practice. The first words out of the fourth-year linebacker's mouth prove how much his teammates respect Williams.
"Trent's the best player in the NFL, for sure. No doubt," Greenlaw told reporters on Monday. "In that regard, you better know your leverage. If you've got a guy like Trent coming at you, you better know if you're supposed to be inside of him or outside of him because if you go down the middle, he going to flatten you."
That's
the best player in the NFL. The entire NFL. Not just among offensive linemen. That is high praise from a player who is nine years younger than Williams.
Pro Football Focus agrees with Greenlaw. In 2021, Williams earned the analytics site's highest-ever overall grade for a player—97.8. In addition, the offensive lineman's run-blocking grade was a career-high 97.9, and his pass-blocking grade of 86.0 was his highest since 2016.
Luckily for 49ers defenders, Williams goes a little easier on his teammates in practice.
"In practice, he's not going to do it," Greenlaw continued. "He knows how to kind of, 'Alright, I got you.' He's going to give you that little tap to let you know, 'Bro, I could have really, really got you.' He's never going as hard as he can until you turn on the tape on Sundays and you see just what he can do. But he's the best player in the NFL, for sure."
A reporter asked Greenlaw to explain further why he feels Williams is the best player in the NFL when the casual fan might focus on other positions when trying to identify the league's best.
"I think he's the best player," Greenlaw responded. "... [H]e's just got that 'No Fear' button. It don't matter who's lined up against him. I've got Trent winning. And that's with anything—any type of outside run or something like that. Trent runs like a DB. You've got to make some decisions when Trent's coming at you. You've got to make some business decisions.
"It's just the way that he plays the game. It's unbelievable. For somebody on the offensive line, you don't really look at that and say he's the best, but he's just an athlete. If he's not the best player, he's one of the best athletes, especially for that size. It's ridiculous."
Drake Jackson has only been in the NFL for a few months, but he already agrees with Greenlaw. The rookie defensive end hasn't faced Williams much on the practice field yet, but he sees an opportunity there. Jackson knows going against Williams will push his development into overdrive.
"I went against him one drive," Jackson shared on Tuesday, "and I definitely made sure I was on my 100 percent key because if you are, just like Greenlaw said, if you don't know where you're supposed to be on him, he will flatten you. You better be on your stuff when you're coming against him.
"And also, it's going to only make me better because I'm going against the best tackle in the league. I don't think there's anyone like him."
Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports that Dre Greenlaw will receive the Dwight Clark Award this year. The San Francisco 49ers linebacker will take the stage on Thursday, May 16, at the fourth annual Dwight Clark Legacy Series in San Jose to accept the prestigious award.
Each year, a current 49ers player is honored with the Dwight Clark Legacy Award, presented to a player who best exemplifies the late receiver's spirit of teamwork. Linebacker Fred Warner was the recipient last year. Defensive lineman Arik Armstead, now with the Jacksonville Jaguars, was the recipient in 2022, while tight end George Kittle earned the first-ever award in 2021.
"Dre is more than deserving of the 2024 Dwight Clark Award," Warner said of his teammate, per Maiocco. "The
Trent Williams will be 36 at the start of the 2024 NFL season. While retirement isn't on his mind just yet, the San Francisco 49ers must consider a succession plan for left tackle.
NFL Media's Bucky Brooks unveiled his final mock draft, projecting the San Francisco 49ers to select former Arizona offensive tackle Jordan Morgan with the No. 31 overall pick as their eventual replacement for Williams.
"With Trent Williams entering the twilight of his career, the 49ers have to find an eventual replacement on the edge," Brooks noted. "Morgan is a sound blocker at the point of attack with diverse skills
The news of Arik Armstead's departure from the San Francisco 49ers after nine seasons with the team shocked linebacker Fred Warner. Armstead, a former first-round pick, was an impactful force on the football field. However, his availability over the last two seasons forced the 49ers to reevaluate his contract, and when his salary could not be significantly reduced, the two sides parted ways.
"Huge surprise," Warner said of learning that Armstead was being released. "Ever since I've been here, we called him the blueprint for how to be a Niner. That was the longest-tenured Niner that's been here and a guy that's done it right through and through."
Warner has been in the NFL long enough to understand how the league works. Over the years, he's watched several
The San Francisco 49ers announced the signing of wide receiver Trent Taylor to a one-year deal, reuniting with the team's former fifth-round draft pick out of Louisiana Tech.
Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area was the first to report that the 49ers were discussing a potential reunion with Taylor. The receiver was part of head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch's first draft class in 2017 and spent his first four NFL seasons with the team.
The #49ers are talking with free-agent slot receiver/return man
