ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. has been adamant about the San Francisco 49ers finding a long-term succession plan at left tackle for their future Hall of Famer, Trent Williams.
And that goes back to January for the analyst's first mock of the offseason, then doubles down with another mock just prior to the start of the league new year where the Niners select a bookend tackle yet again.
Despite San Francisco being awfully active the opening week of the official 2026 offseason, should one think Kiper would change his mind in his latest mock after the opening rush of free agency?
Nope. Well, not quite.
Kiper is standing his ground with regard to the 49ers' top pick in the draft at No. 27 overall. Well, at least the position. For his pre-NFL Combine mock, he had the Niners taking Alabama tackle Kadyn Proctor. The mock draft before, it was Utah's Caleb Lomu, another candidate to be a bookend lineman.
This time, Kiper is mocking Clemson tackle Blake Miller to San Francisco. But it's not an automatic Williams succession plan.
Mel Kiper insists 49ers use 1st draft pick to beef up O-line, not replace Trent Williams outright
Here's what Kiper had to say about Miller going at No. 27 overall to the 49ers:
"You probably see an offensive tackle to San Francisco and think 'Trent Williams heir apparent.' But Miller actually played 97% of his college snaps on the right side. Perhaps he'd transition to left tackle if the Niners can't figure out Williams' contract situation, but I like Miller as an upgrade over Colton McKivitz on the right side regardless of what happens there. The 6-foot-7, 317-pound Miller would bring consistency and reliability to this O-line. (San Francisco also signed Vederian Lowe as some insurance at left tackle.)"
Perhaps Kiper softened his stance on a Williams replacement after the Niners kept the soon-to-be 38 year old on the roster despite a contractual standoff. No trades or releases to report of yet, no. And there probably won't be at this point either.
Now, upgrading over McKivitz has some merit. But, the starting right tackle played well enough in 2025 to suggest he's not the position in need of the biggest upgrade, so one figures if San Francisco's top pick would be better used elsewhere.
That's probably where Kiper's analysis of an eventual Williams replacement comes into play.
Regardless, Kiper hasn't changed his stance of the 49ers using their top pick to beef up the trenches, which is never a bad thing, if one's being honest.