Both left tackle Trent Williams and the San Francisco 49ers await a resolution to what's been a tense contractual standoff the last few weeks; the latest news suggesting the Niners would be open to trading Williams if they can't broach some sort of agreement.
Unfortunately for San Francisco, there's no exact succession plan in place despite the fact Williams will turn 38 years old this offseason.
Well, at least sort of. Until now, that is.
According to a report from ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, the 49ers are signing former New England Patriots backup tackle Vederian Lowe to a two-year deal worth up to $12 million, $5.75 million of which is fully guaranteed.
Patriots OT Vederian Lowe to the 49ers on a two-year deal worth max value of $12M with $5.75M guaranteed, per sources. pic.twitter.com/zOK5WjW1f8
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) March 9, 2026
Granted, the Niners aren't likely intending the 26 year old to be a straight-up Williams replacement. But it does give them a bit of added insurance while providing an ample swing tackle.
What should 49ers fans know about Vederian Lowe?
Lowe entered the league as a 2022 sixth-round draftee of the Minnesota Vikings out of Illinois, ultimately finding his way to the Pats via trade the following year.
Over his career, Lowe has 46 games under his belt, 25 of which were starts, and the book on him from our Patriots sister site, Musket Fire, suggests he's a quality backup and interim starter who showcased good value over his four starts last season.
From Musket Fire's Sara Marshall to Niner Noise:
"He had a very up and down time in New England. Not a great full-time starter, but he is a suitable backup and played well for Will Campbell last year when he missed four games. Pats fans wanted him back in 2026 to remain the key backup at LT, which says a lot after his poor 2024 production."
Read more: 49ers free agency tracker 2026: Signings, departures, latest news and more
While nowhere near as pressing a need as others the Niners have, finding a swing tackle for 2026 and beyond had to be on San Francisco's offseason wish list.
And while the move likely isn't seen as a direct replacement for Williams, at least the 49ers can take some comfort knowing they have an ample body to turn to if talks with the future Hall of Famer continue to deteriorate.