The case for and against the 49ers taking an offenisve lineman in the first round

Q: Why do the 49ers need to draft an offensive lineman in 2026?

The 49ers currently lack a starting left guard and face uncertainty with Trent Williams' contract situation, making offensive line a pressing need.

Q: What are the potential consequences of not drafting an offensive lineman?

Failing to draft an offensive lineman could leave the 49ers vulnerable if injuries occur or if Trent Williams retires, impacting their offensive performance.

Q: Who are the top offensive linemen available for the 49ers at pick 27?

While players like Spencer Fano and Francis Mauioga are top prospects, they are expected to be off the board by the time the 49ers select at 27.

Q: What has Kyle Shanahan's approach been regarding offensive line replacements?

Kyle Shanahan has historically been comfortable with replacement-level players on the offensive line, often waiting until absolutely necessary to make significant changes.

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 28: Dominick Puni #77 of the San Francisco 49ers enters the field during player introductions prior to an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears at Levi's Stadium on December 28, 2025 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images) | Getty Images The San Francisco 49ers are currently slotted to make the 27th overall pick in Thursday’s NFL Draft. With the amount of need the 49ers currently have on their roster, that selection can go any direction, and with the amount of chaos that usually happens in the draft, it’s tough to pinpoint who will exactly be available by the time the 49ers are on the clock. So let’s take a look at what positions San Francisco could take at 27, making a case for and against each need. First, we will start with the case for and against the 49ers selecting an offensive lineman with their first of six projected selections in the 2026 draft: **The case for drafting an offensive lineman** The most obvious case is that the 49ers currently do not have a starting left guard. San Francisco went out and signed Brett Toth and Rob Jones, but neither gives a warm and fuzzy feeling that the 49ers are set at left guard. Toth has only played 260 snaps at left guard over his five-year career. And while Jones has plenty of experience at the guard, he missed the entirety of 2025 with a broken bone in his neck, giving the 49ers another injury-prone option at the position a year after couldn’t stay on the field. The less obvious case is whatever the hell is going on with the situation. Williams is still under contract for the 2026 season, but there’s obviously some bad blood between the two sides, as they still haven’t been able to reach a contract extension that the veteran is seeking. That could lead to an immediate need at left tackle if the disagreement between the two sides carries deeper into the summer. There’s also the potential need for 2027 and beyond, with the potential of Williams retiring after 2026 looming. **Update:** . **The case against drafting an offensive lineman** Kyle Shanahan is probably comfortable with where the 49ers stand on the offensive line. This wouldn’t be the first season that San Francisco enters the season with questions on the offensive line, and Shanahan has shown that he’s okay with replacement-level players starting along the offensive line (see Bartch and for examples). If Jones can stay healthy with that neck injury, he’s more than an acceptable option to start at left guard. The past has also shown that the 49ers are fine with not replacing their left tackle until absolutely needed. They didn’t draft and stash a player to learn behind all those years ago. They waited until the treads were off the tire and then replaced Staley the second he retired. Now, there is no Trent Williams-level player to replace Williams, as there was back in 2020, but it is evidence that the 49ers are fine with waiting until the last second to make a move. Lastly, there might not be a ton of talent on the offensive line by the time the 49ers hit the clock on Thursday. While players like Spencer Fano, Francis Mauioga, and Olaivavega Ioane are at the top of the board, they’ll be long gone by the time the 49ers are up at pick No. 27. A popular selection among recent mock drafts has been Caleb Lomu, the tackle out of Utah. And while Lomu could prove to be a good selection over time, he would sit behind Williams for at least a year, when the 49ers could use pick 27 to take a player at a position who can step in and start (defensive end comes to mind).