The 49ers seem primed to retain left tackle Trent Williams by making him the highest-paid player at his position this offseason. San Francisco knew Williams was on the final year of his contract when they traded fifth and third-round picks to Washington to acquire him. It stands to reason they did so knowing the hefty contract that was sure to come his way in free agency. However, financial constraints and a robust market for the eight-time Pro Bowler could force them to explore other options.
Williams was terrific last season after knocking some rust off early on, and he’ll have earned the sizable contract he’ll get on the free agent market. If he winds up leaving the Bay Area, left tackle becomes the 49ers’ biggest offseason need.
They could elect to go that route in the draft. They hold the No. 12 overall pick, and outside of Oregon’s Penei Sewell, it doesn’t seem likely that more than one tackle will go off the board when they make their pick. Virginia Tech’s Christian Darrisaw and Northwestern’s Rashan Slater could both be available when the 49ers make their selection, but there should be some prospects available later in the first round if they opt to trade back.
Should they not find a suitable replacement in the draft, they could turn to free agency for a shorter-term solution until they can find a long-term option. However, even a starting-caliber left tackle like Pittsburgh’s Alejandro Villanueva isn’t going to come cheap. Most clubs don’t let their high-quality LTs get to free agency, and those that do aren’t going to come much cheaper than Williams. If they wind up having to search for an inexpensive free agent, it’d likely be someone to compete with players already on San Francisco’s roster, and not a player who can be penciled in as a Day 1 starter.
Another interesting possibility involves a trade with the Baltimore Ravens for OT Orlando Brown Jr.
Brown wants to play left tackle after spending most of his career in Baltimore at right tackle, opposite star LT Ronnie Stanley. After Stanley went down with a season-ending ankle injury in Week 8, Brown slid over to left tackle and performed well. Now he’s looking for a permanent move to the blind side.
It wouldn’t be easy for San Francisco to acquire the 2018 third-round pick. He’s a very good player who Baltimore probably isn’t going to be eager to part with. If the 49ers find themselves needing to scoop up a starting left tackle and they aren’t enamored with any prospects in this year’s draft, moving their No. 12 overall pick for Stanely and a Day 2 pick would make sense. He’s an established NFL starter who’s proven to be a good player in the Ravens’ run-heavy scheme.
He’s entering the final year of his rookie deal, and an extension wouldn’t run the same amount as Williams’ will. If the veteran walks, Brown is an intriguing solution to fill a suddenly massive hole on the 49ers’ roster.
The favorable solution ultimately for San Francisco would be retaining Williams. Both sides want to work out a deal that keeps Williams in red and gold for the foreseeable future, but a team with ample cap space this offseason may be able to price the 49ers out of contention for him. If he does walk, it handcuffs San Francisco in a way that would force them to alter their draft plans, spend in free agency, or seek a trade partner in Baltimore.
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