Trent Williams looking forward to building on last season with Brock Purdy, 49ers

Trent Williams knows the San Francisco 49ers roster is loaded. He and his teammates have high expectations for the 2023 season. The Niners have appeared in three of the past four NFC Championship Games. There is no reason to believe they can't make it four out of the last five. However, that isn't the goal. The 49ers have their sights set on reaching and winning the Super Bowl.

Of course, that's the hope of 31 other NFL teams too. Not all of them have the same talent level as San Francisco, though.

"Yeah, [I'm] very optimistic," veteran tackle Trent Williams recently told Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 in Houston. "You know, I think everybody, 80 percent of the teams right now are feeling really optimistic, so that's common. But, you know, we know we got a good roster. We can compete, so just waiting for the time."

Looking up and down the depth chart, the 49ers appear loaded, providing much hope for the upcoming season. However, the biggest question mark might be at quarterback.

Last season's biggest surprise rookie, Brock Purdy, suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his throwing arm in the NFC Championship Game, ending the 49ers' Super Bowl hopes. He is still rehabbing from his March 10 surgery to repair the damage. The team remains hopeful its second-year quarterback will be healthy enough to start Week 1.

In the meantime, the quarterback who entered last season as the starter before suffering a season-ending ankle injury, Trey Lance, is competing with veteran Sam Darnold for the QB2 job.

Once healthy, the starting job will likely be Purdy's. Williams is excited to build on last season's momentum that included 12 consecutive wins before that NFC title game loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

"Obviously, he goes through his rehab, and let's see what happens," Williams said. "But he's definitely a great guy, played great football. Looking forward to playing with him."