Replacing a first-ballot Hall of Famer is no simple task, but the 49ers must look at the future of the position.
Trent Williams has a claim as the NFL’s greatest left tackle of all time. That is how impressive Williams has been during his career. Even at 36 (he turns 37 in August), Williams is regarded as one of, if not the best in the game. The question is how much longer can Williams continue this level of play. It would be unwise to bet against him, given how long he has been elite, but it is worth asking. The draft provides an interesting opportunity for the 49ers to address his future departure with a young, cheap player.
Regarding how the 49ers handed the left tackle position over to Williams, it was a perfect exchange from future Hall of Famer Joe Staley to the future Hall of Famer. The chances of that happening again are next to zero. One thing is certain. The 49ers will begin 2025 with Williams as their starting left tackle, and 20-plus teams will be envious.
Jim Wyman of Pro Football Focus had high praise for the left tackle.
Williams, the oldest player on this list (turns 37 in August), showed in 2024 that he has plenty left in the tank. His 81.4 PFF run-blocking grade and 84.5 PFF pass-blocking grade were both top-10 marks, and he allowed only one sack — a common occurrence for the star. Williams hasn’t surrendered multiple sacks in a season since 2020. Unfortunately, he was lost for the season following Week 11 due to an ankle injury, though the 49ers do not expect it to impact his availability for 2025, which is huge news for a team whose season was heavily influenced by injuries.
Replacing a first-ballot Hall of Famer is no simple task, but the 49ers must look at the future of the position. Expecting the same level of play is foolish, but all good things must come to an end. Being proactive and not reactive will be the key to replacing Williams.