The San Francisco 49ers’ list of NFL draft needs doesn’t include left tackle at the moment. Trent Williams is slated for free agency, but the assumption is the 49ers have planned to retain him by resetting the market since they traded two draft picks to acquire him on Day 3 of the 2020 draft. However, if he does exit as an unrestricted free agent, left tackle jumps to the top of their list of needs. NFL Media’s Daniel Jeremiah presents a pick for the 49ers in his recent mock draft that covers such a scenario.
With all of the edge rushers and two of the top wide receivers still on the board, Jeremiah sends Northwestern offensive tackle Rashawn Slater to San Francisco.
Slater is a touch undersized at 6-3, 305 pounds, but he more than makes up for it with experience, versatility and athleticism that fits the mold of what head coach Kyle Shanahan requires from his tackles. He played both tackle positions for the Wildcats including 26 consecutive starts at right guard over his freshman and sophomore seasons. He moved to left tackle as a junior and dominated, allowing just six total pressures and no sacks in 11 games according to the Northwestern athletics website.
Jeremiah’s analysis of the pick contains a caveat that turns a sound selection into a head-scratching one:
We’ll see what happens with Trent Williams in free agency, but even if the Niners are able to re-sign him, Slater could easily slide inside to guard.
It’s something just south of impossible to believe the 49ers would use the No. 12 overall pick on a player they intend to put at right guard. They’ve not prioritized that position at any point during Kyle Shanahan’s tenure as head coach, and while they need to solidify that spot, they’ll more than likely use a later-round pick or a couple of inexpensive free agents to foster competition there.
Ignoring needs at defensive back, on the defensive line and skipping on two of the draft’s elite offensive playmakers all make sense if Williams does walk. Getting a top talent to protect the quarterback’s blind side is extremely important. It doesn’t make any sense if Williams stays given the way the 49ers have prioritized right guard in the past.
An interesting wrinkle comes if the 49ers believe Slater can step in and be a long-term answer at center. Weston Richburg missed all of last season with a knee injury he suffered late in 2019, and his status for 2021 is uncertain. Getting a dominant, low-cost, team-controlled option at center will be a much higher priority than doing so at right guard.
Still, if Williams is back, the 49ers are probably aiming for something more than an interior lineman with the No. 12 overall pick. If not, filling their vacancy at left tackle will be their top priority.