Ryan Wilson and Mike Renner recently conducted a first-round mock draft on the With the First Pick podcast, alternating selections. When the No. 9 overall pick came up, Renner wasted no time making an aggressive move, projecting the San Francisco 49ers to trade up with the New Orleans Saints.
With that pick, Renner had the 49ers planning for the future, selecting Texas offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. as a successor to future Hall of Famer Trent Williams.
"I think everyone's going to want to jump the Bears for an OT if you want one," Renner explained. "... Trent Williams is getting up there, man. I know he's ageless, but he's getting up there. They need any help they can get along their offensive line."
Banks was the second offensive lineman taken in the mock draft, following LSU's Will Campbell, who went to the New England Patriots at No. 4. The trade also marked the third of the first round, suggesting there could be significant movement on the first day of the draft.
Williams will be 37 at the start of the 2025 season, making it crucial for the 49ers to secure his eventual replacement. At 6-foot-4 and 320 pounds, Banks has drawn frequent projections to San Francisco due to his similar frame and potential talent.
Banks played exclusively at left tackle over the past three seasons, earning a career-best 89.9 pass-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus in 2024—ranking fourth among all collegiate offensive tackles.
Over 538 pass-blocking snaps (935 total snaps), he allowed just one sack and 10 total pressures. He also posted career-high grades of 81.0 in run blocking and 86.0 overall.