Trent Williams Is Still the 49ers’ Anchor - But the Line Behind Him Can’t Stay This Fragile
The San Francisco 49ers are heading into an offseason that’s going to require more than just tweaks around the edges. There’s a lot to like about this roster - and plenty of attention will be paid to the usual suspects: quarterbacks, playmakers, defensive stars. But one of the most pressing issues is hiding in plain sight, and it’s been that way for years.
The offensive line - outside of one future Hall of Famer - is a house of cards. And the 49ers are running out of time to keep pretending it’s not.
One Elite Tackle, and a Whole Lot of Questions
Let’s be clear: Trent Williams is still playing at an elite level. At 37, he’s not just holding his own - he’s masking a lot of the issues that exist around him.
He’s the kind of player who makes an entire unit look better than it is. But that’s also the problem.
Because once you get past Williams, the 49ers’ offensive line starts to look less like a cohesive front and more like a patchwork experiment.
Spencer Burford has been shuffled around the line but hasn’t found a permanent home or a consistent rhythm. Jake Brendel is aging into the “serviceable veteran” category - fine when things are going well, but not someone you build around.
Colton McKivitz has been a budget-friendly option at right tackle, and he plays like it. And while rookie Dominick Puni showed some promise early on, injuries derailed what could’ve been a meaningful developmental year.
The depth? It’s thin.
Connor Colby is raw and not ready for prime time. Ben Bartch can’t stay on the field.
The rest of the backup group is a mix of names that inspire more hope than confidence. It’s a depth chart full of “maybes” and “if onlys,” which isn’t what you want protecting your quarterback in January.
History Keeps Repeating Itself
We’ve seen what happens when the offensive line cracks - and it’s not pretty.
Go back to the 2021 NFC Championship Game. Or the Super Bowl loss where the line collapsed at the worst possible time.
Or even this past season’s matchups with Seattle, where the protection issues were glaring. In each case, the offense sputtered when the line couldn’t hold up - and in each case, the team’s answer was the same: hope Trent Williams can fix it.
That’s not a strategy. That’s a gamble.
Trent Williams Holds the Cards - And the 49ers Know It
Williams has already said he plans to return next season, and that’s good news - but it’s also a reminder of just how fragile the 49ers’ current setup is. Because if he changes his mind?
If his body tells him it’s time? San Francisco has no real fallback.
There’s no succession plan. No heir apparent. No plug-and-play depth piece waiting in the wings.
That’s a dangerous place to be, especially when your most important offensive lineman is also your oldest. Williams’ presence gives this offense a floor, a safety net. But the moment he’s not there, the entire operation risks collapsing.
The Offseason Mandate: Build the Wall - Before It’s Too Late
The 49ers don’t need to overhaul the entire offensive line in one offseason. But they do need to start treating it like the priority it is.
That means investing real draft capital. Bringing in legitimate competition - not just camp bodies.
And most importantly, laying the foundation for life after Trent Williams. Because that day is coming.
Maybe not this year. Maybe not next.
But soon.
And when it does, San Francisco can’t afford to be caught scrambling.
This team has championship aspirations. But those dreams start - and can end - in the trenches. It’s time the 49ers built an offensive line that can stand on its own, with or without its aging anchor.