Jacob Infante of Pro Football and Sports Network (PFSN) released his latest three-round 2026 NFL mock draft, projecting the San Francisco 49ers to address a position many expected them to target this year, but didn't—offensive tackle. In this scenario, head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch look to the future by selecting a potential heir to All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams.
Infante has San Francisco selecting Alabama offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor with the No. 23 overall pick.
"As ageless as Trent Williams seems, being fourth in OTi grading at 37 years old, the San Francisco 49ers will eventually need to find a replacement for him at left tackle," Infante wrote. "They do so in this 2026 NFL Mock Draft."
PFSN's OTi grading system measures offensive tackle impact. The three players ahead of Williams on that scale for 2025 include one of his teammates—right tackle Colton McKivitz. The others are Penei Sewell and Darnell Wright.
"Kadyn Proctor hasn't been as consistent as one would hope this year, but the upside with him is still palpable," Infante continued. "He's a massive presence with long arms and powerful hands. He's not just big; he's coordinated and is able to handle power and maintain an anchor in pass protection."
Rounds 2 and 3: 49ers defense gets reinforcements
In the second round (No. 54 overall), Infante projects the 49ers to bolster their pass rush with Missouri edge rusher Zion Young.
"Listed at 6-5 and 262 pounds, Zion Young is a high-floor edge rusher with impressive play strength and length that helps him set the edge well in run support," Infante wrote. "With his continued development as a pass rusher, he could go higher than this in real life."
In the third round (No. 87 overall), Infante has San Francisco addressing the secondary by selecting Texas cornerback Malik Muhammad.
"Malik Muhammad is a scrappy cover man who broke up eight passes last year," Infante explained. "He's physical, instinctive, and brings solid athleticism to the table, making him a potential starting option down the line for the 49ers in this 2026 NFL Mock Draft."