The Ultimate Gamble: Can the 49ers Survive a Draft Without an Offensive Lineman?

Starting with this defensive haul is a compelling reason to skip the OL early, as it turns a 2025 weakness into a 2026 strength.

The Skill Position Pivot

Rather than drafting a developmental tackle like Jude Bowry, the next two picks address the aging weapons around Brock Purdy.

• Pick 133: The 49ers grab wide receiver Deion Burks from Oklahoma. Burks provides a vertical threat that this simulation prioritized over a guard.
• Pick 138: The team lands tight end Jack Endries from Texas. Endries is a local product who can provide the reliable TE2 presence the team has lacked behind George Kittle.

The Wild Card Finish

• Pick 139: Much like the wide receiver scenario, this is the time for a trade. The 49ers move back with the Jets to grab a late round "lottery ticket."
• Pick 228: With the final pick, the Niners ignore the line one last time to grab a specialist or a developmental linebacker like Nick Martin from Oklahoma State.

Can They Really Get Away With It?

Is this a realistic strategy? If Trent Williams signs on the dotted line this week, the "need" for a Round 1 tackle like Caleb Lomu diminishes from an alarm fire to a manageable concern.

However, "not needing" a tackle is different from "not wanting" one. Even with Williams locked in for 2026, the rest of the line consists of Jake Brendel entering his fifth year as a starter and Dominick Puni entering a pivotal Year 3. Sidelining the offensive line entirely in favor of an all defense or all weapon draft would be the ultimate gamble. It assumes that the current group is enough to get Brock Purdy a ring today, while leaving the "life after Trent" questions for 2027.