As has been the case for several years, strengthening the offensive line remains one of the San Francisco 49ers' top offseason priorities. If contract negotiations with Trent Williams take a turn for the worse, left tackle would immediately become a major concern entering the 2026 NFL season.
However, if Williams and the 49ers resolve their differences, left guard is expected to become the team's most pressing offensive line need—along with identifying a long-term successor at left tackle.
ESPN analyst Aaron Schatz recently identified ideal landing spots for 32 NFL free agents and paired 12-year Cleveland Browns guard Joel Bitonio with San Francisco.
"Would the 49ers be willing to put 34-year-old Bitonio next to 37-year-old Trent Williams (assuming the Niners and Williams can work out his contract situation) on the left side of their offensive line?" Schatz wrote. "There is an opening here, and a chance for Bitonio to finally go after a Super Bowl ring with a real contender.
"He ranked third among all guards with a 96.4% pass block win rate last season, and his run block win rate of 72.3% was above average."
The Browns selected Bitonio out of Nevada in the second round (No. 35 overall) of the 2014 NFL Draft. He has spent his entire 12-year NFL career in Cleveland, serving as the team's starting left guard since his rookie season and becoming the longest-tenured player on the roster.
In 2025, Bitonio started all 17 regular-season games and played all 1,080 offensive snaps, committing just one penalty throughout the season.
Over his lengthy NFL career, Bitonio has started all 178 games he has appeared in. His résumé includes seven Pro Bowl selections (2018–2024) and five All-Pro honors, including first-team selections in 2021 and 2022. He was also named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team in 2014.
Schatz noted that the 49ers could also consider a younger option over the 34-year-old Bitonio, adding, "Alijah Vera-Tucker would also be an interesting signing for the 49ers if they wanted to go younger at left guard instead."
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