49ers news: Trey Lance, Deebo Samuel and other minicamp takeaways

49ers minicamp takeaway No. 4: Trent Williams, Aaron Banks to comprise left side of O-line

Trent Williams’ status and role for the Niners in 2022 isn’t a question. He’ll be the starting left tackle, without doubt.

And San Francisco’s plan for the left guard spot in the wake of Laken Tomlinson departing in free agency for the New York Jets this offseason wasn’t necessarily a huge question either, but day one of minicamp showed just what the 49ers are planning on doing anyway.

Second-year guard Aaron Banks, the Niners’ Round 2 pick from the 2021 draft, spent almost all of his rookie season as a backup, seeing only five regular-season snaps in what many deemed a lost year for the former Notre Dame standout.

However, it’s possible San Francisco’s long-term plan was to have Banks step into this role a year after he was drafted, and initial lineups from practice showcased this with the guard lining up next to Williams with the first team:

The 49ers have some key question marks along their offensive line, particularly in the wake of Pro Bowl center Alex Mack retiring just days before minicamp began. Yet it appears they don’t want to make the left guard spot an open-ended question, giving Banks every opportunity to seize the starting job right away.

Lining up next to Williams should help in that regard a lot.

Day two of mandatory minicamp will be on Wednesday, June 8.