After previously projecting a skill-position pick for the San Francisco 49ers, NFL Media analyst Charles Davis shifted gears in his latest 2026 NFL mock draft. Instead of adding another pass-catching weapon, Davis has the 49ers reinforcing the trenches.

With the No. 27 overall pick, Davis projects San Francisco selecting former Georgia offensive tackle Monroe Freeling—a move aimed at preparing for life after Trent Williams.

The 49ers and Williams are currently negotiating a new contract. Even if the sides reach an agreement, the All-Pro left tackle will turn 38 before the 2026 NFL season. Given the organization’s significant financial commitment to quarterback Brock Purdy, securing a long-term plan at left tackle is critical.

“Yes, presuming the Niners and their All-World OT figure out a way around his $38.8 million cap hit in 2026, Trent Williams will be entrenched at left tackle, but Freeling would get a great opportunity to learn from the best before he’s asked to take over at the position,” Davis wrote.

The selection would be a shift for the 49ers, who often deprioritized offensive line investments in the early rounds of the draft.

Freeling (6-7, 315) earned an impressive 85.7 pass-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus in 2025, allowing just three sacks and nine pressures across 469 pass-blocking snaps. More than 82 percent of his collegiate snaps came at left tackle, making him a natural successor to Williams.

At the NFL Scouting Combine, Freeling ran a 4.93-second 40-yard dash with a 1.71-second 10-yard split. He also posted a 33.5-inch vertical and a 9-foot-7 broad jump.

Davis’ NFL Media colleague, Lance Zierlein, wrote the following about Freeling in his draft profile:

“Freeling offers coveted length and athleticism at right tackle. With only 16 career starts, filling out his frame and improving his technique should be early priorities. His quickness brings first-phase positioning advantages, but he needs more play strength to carry that over to block sustain and finish. Lunging and deadening feet post-punch must be coached out of his muscle memory in pass protection so his athleticism and length can do their jobs. Independent hand usage and a reliable “snatch and trap” could instantly bolster his success rate. There is some buyer beware on tape, but if smoothed out, he has the ceiling of a quality NFL starter.”