49ers’ perfect Trent Williams succession plan is staring them right in the face
The San Francisco 49ers have a major disaster on their hands with the Trent Williams contract dispute. As lengthy as Williams is nonetheless taking part in, he is considered one of the greatest tackles in the NFL. He deserves each penny the 49ers will give him, however it may be onerous to come back to an settlement earlier than the NFL Draft.
The extra time that passes, the more durable it will likely be to come back to a decision, particularly since each side refuse to offer in. But the bizarre half is that Williams is set to make nearly $33 million in 2026, so even when he does not have a brand new extension set in stone but, it is solely a matter of time earlier than he will get his cash.
We have seen this story earlier than: he’ll maintain out for more cash, John Lynch will give it to him, and he’ll get harm. It’s a story that Niners followers have turn out to be fairly accustomed to over the years. But even when San Francisco pays the 37-year-old what he needs, they nonetheless need to find his long-term successor at LT.
Drafting Caleb Lomu is the perfect means for the San Francisco 49ers to cowl their bases with Trent Williams
With Williams coming into his age-38 season, it is unclear how for much longer he’ll maintain this degree of play, particularly along with his damage historical past. So for that motive, OT is a need the 49ers must address early on in the 2026 NFL Draft, however they should deal with it in a means the place they’re drafting a Day 1 starter at 27.
And the path forward is obvious. If Utah offensive sort out Caleb Lomu is out there, he needs to be the decide. While he performed left sort out in faculty, Lomu has the skillset to kick inside to protect at the NFL degree, the place he might begin his profession hopefully taking part in alongside Williams in the event that they get a deal completed.
However, simply because Lomu would begin his profession off as a guard does not imply he would end his rookie contract as one. The 12-time Pro Bowler’s doesn’t have limitless time left, so he would in all probability be entrenched as the Niners’ beginning left guard till Williams retires or doesn’t return.
The league’s best front offices use the NFL Draft as a chance to deal with wants earlier than they floor, and that is precisely what drafting Lomu would do in San Fran. He’d begin at one place on the offensive line, after which reverting again to his faculty place is get the most out of him.
In a loaded tackle classit is no assure that Lomu is nonetheless out there at this level, but when he is, he presents the 49ers with the most secure approach to navigate the Williams saga.
