Trent Williams' Spot Could Be Targeted After Kadyn Proctor Mocked to 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers figure to prioritize their offensive line after a high-profile mock draft projected Kadyn Proctor to the team, a scenario that spotlights Trent Williams and the club’s short-term and long-term line planning. Trent Williams is entering the final year of his contract and will be 38 by Week 1, a timeline that underpins the potential value of a developmental lineman who could move inside before eventually replacing him.
Development details — Trent Williams and Kadyn Proctor
Analysts placed 49ers interest on the offensive line in the context of Kadyn Proctor’s size and strength. Proctor is listed at 6'7" and 366 pounds with 40 career starts at left tackle in college. His measurable testing includes a 32-inch vertical jump, an 815-pound squat, a 535-pound bench press and a 405-pound power clean; for comparison, Williams recorded a 34. 5-inch vertical jump, noted as in the 97th percentile. Proctor was 400 pounds as a freshman and will turn 21 in June.
The proposed path in the projection would see Proctor develop in Year 1 while shifting inside to left guard or serving as a swing tackle, giving the veteran Williams time to play out his contract. The chain of cause and effect is straightforward: Williams’ age and contract status create a window in which the team can incubate a physically dominant but inconsistent prospect, with the aim that the rookie refines technique and conditioning while contributing in a role that fits the 49ers’ scheme.
Context and escalation
San Francisco’s front office and coaching staff are gathering in Indianapolis this week for the NFL Scouting Combine, where the franchise expects to weigh trade possibilities, free-agent targets and prospects. General manager John Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan will be among those checking names on the list, while offensive line coach Chris Foerster has publicly emphasized drafting players who can contribute to scoring — a philosophy that shapes how the team evaluates positional value early in drafts.
The 49ers finished 12-5 last season but were eliminated in the divisional round by the Seattle Seahawks, 41-6, a loss that reinforced the front office verdict that more pass rush and playmaking speed are needed. San Francisco finished last in the league with 20 sacks in 2025, heightening offseason urgency for defenders as well as for reinforcements along the offensive front.
Immediate impact
A rookie like Proctor would affect roster construction in three tangible ways: depth at tackle, the interior guard competition, and short-term flexibility for Williams. If Proctor moves to guard, the 49ers would add a physically dominant blocker next to Williams while buying time for technical development. The team holds the No. 27 pick in the first round, meaning any offensive lineman taken there is likely viewed as a project with upside rather than an immediate franchise-altering starter.
Offseason maneuvers elsewhere also shape the 49ers’ calculus. The front office is evaluating trade discussions for pass rusher Maxx Crosby, and exploring free agents such as Trey Hendrickson, Khalil Mack, Joey Bosa and former Niner Arden Key to shore up a thin pass rush. Receiver depth is another priority, with Jauan Jennings and Kendrick Bourne both free agents and Ricky Pearsall having missed 14 games in his first two seasons — all factors that influence whether the club invests a first-round pick on line help or addresses other areas.
Forward outlook
The next confirmed milestones are the Combine this week in Indianapolis and the 49ers’ decision window at No. 27 in the first round. The team’s leadership will be actively assessing trade prices for veteran pass rushers and balancing free-agent fits against draft-day values. Proctor’s profile — 40 starts, extraordinary raw strength and a frame that once carried 400 pounds — places him squarely on the list of prospects to watch if San Francisco prioritizes long-term protection for its aging left tackle.
What makes this notable is the alignment of timelines: Williams’ contract year and age create a narrow runway for development, and the Combine plus the draft provide concrete moments when the 49ers can convert evaluation into roster action. The club’s choices in Indianapolis and at No. 27 will reveal whether they bet on a powerful but inconsistent prospect like Proctor as a multi-year solution alongside Trent Williams, or pursue more immediate upgrades elsewhere on the roster.
