What is 49ers biggest goal for this year’s draft?

The San Francisco 49ers enter the final stretch for the 2026 draft with no clear need for their first-round selection. Many experts predict an offensive linemen, receiver or edge rusher to be taken, but only the team knows their true plans.

NFL.com's Gennaro Filice, though, believes the 49ers should have a goal in mind: Find Trent Williams’ successor. Whether that comes with the No. 27 pick, the No. 58 pick or any of the team's four fourth-round picks remains to be seen, but that idea is one Filice thinks is the most pressing for San Francisco heading into the 2026 season.

At publishing, the 49ers remain in a contract standoff with Trent Williams. Three months from now, the 12-time Pro Bowler turns 38 years old. You see where I’m going here: San Francisco needs to find the heir apparent at left tackle. The Niners gave Brock Purdy a $265 million extension last offseason. Now it’s time to shore up the franchise QB’s blind side for the foreseeable future. At No. 27 overall, San Francisco’s first-round pick sits in the range where a developmental tackle like Caleb Lomu or Max Iheanachor could be available. The Niners continue to exude confidence that they’ll eventually find common ground with Williams, so draft the project, have him learn from an all-time great and set up a nice transition at a critical position.

The 49ers reportedly aren't prioritizing offensive line in the first round, but that could change if the right player falls or be a smokescreen so other teams don't predict what San Francisco does with the pick. Alternatively, the team could find solid replacements elsewhere in the draft.

Whatever the 49ers do, though, will have to be with one eye on the future. Purdy is only 26 years old, and he needs ample protection if the team wants to remain competitive in the NFC West during their quarterbacks prime seasons.

This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: NFL draft: 49ers biggest goal is replacing Trent Williams