The San Francisco 49ers entered the offseason with a glaring need at offensive tackle but surprisingly bypassed the position in the 2025 NFL Draft. That decision leaves the future uncertain up front, with 37-year-old Trent Williams nearing the end of his Hall of Fame career and right tackle Colton McKivitz set to hit free agency after the season.
With limited cap flexibility, the 49ers are unlikely to invest heavily to retain McKivitz, and no clear succession plan at either spot appears to be in place.
ESPN's Field Yates addressed the concern in his early 2026 NFL mock draft, projecting Boston College's Jude Bowry to San Francisco at No. 23 overall. Yates believes Bowry's versatility makes him an ideal fit for Kyle Shanahan's offense.
"Bowry played left tackle in 2024 and will be there again this season, but he has played both tackle spots, and some scouts have even projected him as an NFL guard," Yates wrote.
Bowry, a 6-foot-5, 308-pound lineman, logged 728 snaps in 2024 while earning career-high Pro Football Focus grades—70.5 overall, 76.2 in pass blocking, and 64.7 in run blocking. With another strong year in 2025, he could solidify himself as one of the top offensive line prospects in next year's draft.
Yates sees Bowry as a natural successor to Williams.
"With San Francisco, Bowry could play anywhere on the O-line and be groomed as Trent Williams' heir apparent at LT," Yates added. "The 49ers need offensive linemen with above-average foot speed to play in their zone scheme, and Bowry's footwork really pops on tape. He shows an impressive ability to get lateral and handle rushers who try to cross his face to work inside."
Bowry is the fourth offensive tackle selected in Yates' 2026 mock draft, following Utah's Spencer Fano (No. 7, Raiders), Florida's Austin Barber (No. 12, Browns), and Miami's Francis Mauigoa (No. 14, Cardinals).