The San Francisco 49ers may finally address the long-term future of their offensive line.
In his first 2026 NFL mock draft for NFL.com, Gennaro Filice projects the 49ers selecting Georgia offensive tackle Monroe Freeling with the No. 27 overall pick — a move aimed at eventually replacing veteran left tackle Trent Williams.
Planning for life after Trent Williams
Williams will turn 38 before the 2026 season. While he remains one of the NFL's premier offensive linemen, many believe San Francisco has not invested enough premium draft capital into its offensive line in recent years.
RELATED Where 49ers OT Trent Williams landed in PFF's top 101 players of 2025
That concern became more evident in 2024, when Williams missed seven games, and the offensive line struggled to maintain stability. The need for a long-term answer at left tackle is clear.
The positive? Williams continues to perform at an elite level. He started all but one game in 2025 and earned a 91.1 offensive grade from Pro Football Focus (PFF) — the fifth time in the past six seasons he has graded at 91.0 or higher.
Why Monroe Freeling makes sense for the 49ers
Filice believes Freeling offers upside and could develop with a season behind one of the best offensive linemen ever to play the game.
"Trent Williams can't play forever," Filice wrote. "And Freeling probably needs some time to marinate in the NFL before taking over as a full-time starter. Seems like an ideal mentorship situation for San Francisco."
Freeling (6-7, 315) earned an 85.7 pass-blocking grade from PFF in 2025, allowing just three sacks and nine pressures across 469 pass-blocking snaps. He played more than 82 percent of his collegiate snaps at left tackle, making him a natural fit behind Williams.
Filice also highlighted the Georgia product's physical traits.
"Extremely long and athletic, Freeling boasts rare traits that could shoot him up the draft board in the coming months," Filice added. "But he made just 16 starts at Georgia and would benefit from filling out his frame before taking on the edge monsters in the NFL."
A smart long-term approach?
Freeling may not be ready to start immediately, but that's precisely why the fit works. Of course, some will argue that a first-round draft pick shouldn't be used on a player who cannot contribute immediately. But if the 49ers could allow him to develop behind a future Hall of Fame player before handing him the reins, the benefits will be long-lasting.
If San Francisco is serious about improving its offensive future, investing in a Trent Williams successor with a premium draft pick would be prudent.
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