The 49ers made the NFL’s biggest splash on Day 3 of the draft when they traded a 2020 fifth-round pick and a 2021 third-round pick for Washington’s seven-time Pro Bowl tackle Trent Williams.
The trade came as a precursor to Joe Staley’s retirement. With Williams in at left tackle, San Francisco’s offensive line should be at least as good as it was a season ago, and perhaps better. That’s not good news for the 49ers’ division rivals.
Rams head coach Sean McVay had a funny response to the trade when NFL Network’s Omar Ruiz asked him about the 49ers’ addition.
“Thanks for reminding me,” McVay said. “I need to go drink a couple of more beers.”
McVay is more than familiar with what Williams is capable of. The Rams’ head coach was in various coaching roles with Washington for seven seasons. His first year as an offensive assistant there was in Williams’ rookie year when the team made him the No. 4 overall pick. McVay went on to work as their offensive coordinator from 2014 to 2016.
It’s worth noting that Williams, 31, didn’t play football last year while working through a holdout and the removal of a cancerous growth on his skull, so there’s some chance Williams isn’t back at Pro Bowl form right away. If he does make it back to peak form, McVay knows first hand how good he is, and he’s not excited to face him.
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