Securing their star tackle frees the 49ers. Now, flexibility reigns, positioning them to trade down and build crucial draft capital.
News broke early Monday that the San Francisco 49ers and star left tackle Trent Williams have finally buried the hatchet, agreeing to a two year contract extension worth up to $50 million. The deal keeps the 12-time Pro Bowler with the team through 2027, effectively securing Brock Purdy’s blindside for the foreseeable future.
But while the extension solves the team's most glaring veteran roster issue, it creates a new strategic question: What happens to the 27th overall pick?
With the "Trent Williams fire" officially extinguished, I believe the 49ers are now prime candidates to trade out of the first round entirely.
Flexibility Over Urgency
Before Monday, the No. 27 pick felt like a desperate hunt for a left tackle successor. With Williams potentially entering a lame duck year or holding out, the 49ers were backed into a corner. Now, that urgency has vanished.
ESPN's Adam Schefter, who was among the first to report the deal, noted on his podcast that the extension fundamentally shifts the 49ers' draft board. "That deal was always going to get done," Schefter said. "It does give them a little bit of flexibility, and I’m looking for a move back."
The logic is simple, Pick 27 is notoriously a "no-man's-land" in the first round. By the time the 49ers are on the clock, the “best” offensive tackles will likely be gone. Rather than reaching for a developmental tackle or a "best player available" at a position that isn't a need, trading down allows the 49ers to address their lack of draft capital.
The Math of the Move Back
San Francisco currently holds only six selections in the 2026 draft. For a team that still needs to bolster its interior offensive line, edge rusher depth, and the secondary, six picks isn't enough to fill the gaps.
According to Schefter, moving out of Round 1 could be the 49ers' best path to accumulating the Day 2 picks they currently lack. "The Niners are hoping to get him for the next couple of years... I'm not going to be surprised if the 49ers trade out of this spot," Schefter noted. "Like a lot of teams, the 49ers would be open to moving back."
There are two major benefits to this strategy:
- Volume in the "Sweet Spot": The second and third rounds of the 2026 class are deep with guard prospects and rotational edge rushers. Trading pick No. 27 to a team looking to jump back into the first round (likely for a quarterback or a sliding receiver) could net the 49ers an additional second and a high third rounder.
- Future Assets: If a trade down partner isn't available for 2026, Lynch could look to trade out for a 2027 first round pick. This would give the 49ers a "premium" asset next year when the search for a permanent Williams successor becomes more certain.
The Verdict
Since the 49ers paid Trent Williams they now have the luxury of choice. By trading out of the first round, they can stop worrying about finding a "star" at pick 27 and focus on building the depth that will actually keep their Super Bowl window open through 2027.