Dalton Wasserman of Pro Football Focus (PFF) recently identified a free agent, draft prospect, or trade candidate who could elevate five NFL teams to the next level. For the San Francisco 49ers, that player isn't Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett—although defensive coordinator Robert Saleh would undoubtedly welcome such a game-changing addition.
Instead, Wasserman links Garrett to the Detroit Lions and highlights a draft prospect for the 49ers. With general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan expected to address two key areas of need—offensive and defensive lines—in the upcoming draft, Wasserman sees them targeting offensive talent with their first-round pick (No. 11 overall).
Wasserman names Texas offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. as the player who can take the 49ers to the next level.
"After winning just six games this season, the 49ers may not seem like championship contenders, but they still have a ton of talent and finished this season ranked ninth in team PFF overall grade," Wasserman wrote. "One of their main issues in recent years has been an inability to fill out their offensive line with stars next to left tackle Trent Williams."
Williams, a future Hall of Famer, will be 37 at the start of the 2025 season. How much longer he plans to play remains uncertain, making it crucial for the 49ers to identify a potential successor.
"Texas left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. could help them in multiple ways in the near and distant future," Wasserman continued. "First, he is an excellent pass protector who trails only Patrick Paul and Joe Alt among FBS tackles in PFF pass-blocking grade over the past two seasons. Banks is also an excellent fit in Kyle Shanahan's outside-zone run scheme. In 2024, he earned an 82.4 PFF run-blocking grade across a high volume of outside-zone reps at Texas.
"Banks' talent and scheme fit is perfect for Kyle Shanahan's offense in the short term. He could be an immediate upgrade at right tackle and potentially replace Trent Williams on the left side whenever he decides to retire. Williams has two years left on his current contract. Drafting an heir to his position could be a wise idea for next year and beyond."
Colton McKivitz currently holds the right tackle spot, but Banks would be considered a significant upgrade. He earned a career-best 89.8 pass-blocking grade from PFF this past season, ranking fourth among all collegiate offensive tackles. In 538 pass-blocking snaps, he allowed just one sack and 10 total pressures.
With quarterback Brock Purdy set to earn the biggest contract in franchise history, protecting that investment is critical. Adding a talent like Banks would align perfectly with that philosophy and strengthen the offensive line for years to come.