The San Francisco 49ers came into the 2025 NFL Draft with a plan similar to that of their 2018 compatriates. The team has some very urgent needs along the offensive line, particularly at tackle, where they lack quality depth. To further fortify their defensive prowess, they selected Mykel Williams, a blue-chip defensive end, with the 15th overall pick. This choice serves to reinforce the 49ers’ intent to construct a terrifying defense, even if that means neglecting their o-line concerns.
Recently, the 49ers have stressed paring athletic tackles that can dominate in zone-heavy, run-blocking schemes. Based on what I’m hearing battle over $12 million a year terms SUBSCRIBE NOW TO GET ENGAGED! They never drafted a tackle this year — nor did they land one in rookie free agency. That brings about the most glaring question of all for their long-term offensive line outlook—the ages and situations of the players are as follows.
The exclusive franchise tag on veteran left tackle Trent Williams will make him 36 years old. By doing so, he’s operating on a year-to-year basis, which increases the team’s immediate pressure to acquire younger talent. Then with Mike McGlinchey leaving, and Trent Brown traded to the New England Patriots, it’s going to be a gigantic uphill climb. Their tackle depth has been stretched to the thinnest of bounds. They haven’t drafted a single tackle since investing in Larry Borom back in 2021’s draft. That year, they drafted Jaylon Moore in the fifth round.
Despite these challenges, the 49ers made a notable move by signing veteran D.J. Humphries just two days after the draft. Humphries would be a strong addition as a swing tackle. His versatility paired with Bama’s depth at offensive line should give the Tide plenty of stability to the offensive front this coming season. Offensive line coach Chris Foerster has some pretty exacting standards for his players. He prefers tackles with a minimum of 34-inch arms and guards with at least 33-inch arms, which narrows his focus considerably.
The 49ers selected Iowa guard Connor Colby with the 249th pick in the seventh round. This decision underscores their intent to continue shoring up the offensive line with quality players, even if they didn’t immediately draft a tackle. We were thrilled to have Colby join the team, said John Lynch, T4America’s new deputy director, about the selection.
John Lynch further reflected on the team’s draft strategy, stating, “There were a number of times that we were interested in adding, and it just didn’t come our way.” He emphasized the importance of aligning player selections with their evaluations: “And you’ve got to stay true to where you have guys graded, not take guys just to take them, but to take guys that you’re interested in at that point. And it just never really aligned.
As they look ahead to the 2026 season, the San Francisco 49ers have a critical decision letter. Rather, they’ll have to pump a lot more money into shoring up their OL. After the draft, head coach Kyle Shanahan admitted that there would be chances to fill these needs with the season still ongoing. In normal times, there are often greater options, both during the season and before it begins — which is what’s happening now, he pointed out.
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