SANTA CLARA — The San Francisco 49ers are staring down a Hall of Fame-sized hole on their offensive line as the 2026 NFL Draft approaches. With All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams set to turn 38 this summer and contract negotiations currently stuck in the mud, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has identified the man to bridge the gap. In his latest mock draft, Kiper projects the 49ers will select Clemson offensive tackle Blake Miller with the 27th overall pick.
John Lynch isn’t just fighting the clock; he’s fighting the salary cap. Williams carries a massive $38.8 million cap hit for the 2026 season, a figure that accounts for over 11% of the team’s entire payroll. While Williams remains elite—finishing 2025 as PFF’s third-highest-graded tackle with a 91.1 overall grade—the 49ers need financial breathing room. The recent signing of Vederian Lowe on a two-year, $12.5 million deal provided some insurance, but Miller represents a long-term fix. At 6-foot-7 and 317 pounds, Miller is a mountain of a man who started 54 consecutive games at Clemson, a school record that screams durability.
The 49ers offensive line finished 2025 ranked 5th in the league, but that number hides some bruises. While Colton McKivitz silenced critics with a 90.4 run-blocking grade, the interior of the line struggled during the postseason. Miller played 97% of his college snaps on the right side, but his athletic profile suggests he can slide to the blind side if the Williams era ends abruptly. Lynch knows the window for Brock Purdy is wide open, and he can’t afford to let it slam shut because of a protection breakdown.
“Trent is a legend, and we want him here. We’re working to thread that needle. He’s a Niner, and he belongs in the rafters one day, but we also have to be responsible for the future of this roster.”
— John Lynch, 49ers General Manager
Selecting Miller at No. 27 isn’t an indictment of Colton McKivitz. Instead, it’s a strategic move to handle the aging curve of the league’s most expensive tackle. If Williams and the front office find common ground on a restructure, Miller slots in as an immediate upgrade on the right side, giving the 49ers the most feared bookends in the NFC West. If the stalemate results in a trade or a surprise retirement, the 49ers avoid a catastrophic rebuild.
Expect the tension in Santa Clara to rise as draft night nears. The 49ers have the talent to win it all in 2026, but only if they can keep Purdy upright. Miller provides the “consistency and reliability” Kiper emphasizes, traits that Kyle Shanahan values above all else when the game is on the line in the fourth quarter.
