A month ago, most mock drafts would have had the San Francisco 49ers targeting a wide receiver at No. 27 overall. But that was before the Niners made two splash free-agent signings, grabbing Mike Evans and Christian Kirk to beef up what was a questionable receiver room.
With that need largely crossed off, the bulk of draft pundits have shifted their focus to San Francisco looking deeper in the trenches.
While a pass-rusher is paramount, the growing trend suggests the 49ers will be searching for offensive line help.
Specifically, left tackle.
That's precisely what CBS Sports' Pete Prisco has the Niners doing in his first mock draft of the offseason.
Pete Prisco mock NFL Draft has 49ers selecting OT Monroe Freeling
With the 27th overall pick, Prisco mocked Georgia offensive tackle Monroe Freeling to San Francisco, saying, "Trent Williams is getting up in the years and wants a new contract. It's time to start looking for a replacement."
The standoff between Williams and the 49ers needs little introduction at this point. He wants more guaranteed money entering the final year of his deal, while the Niners want to trim his total cap hit. According to the latest reports, little progress has been made toward a resolution.
Even if one is reached soon, it won't cover up the fact the future Hall of Famer will turn 38 years old prior to the regular season, and San Francisco hasn't exactly developed a worthy contingency plan for his inevitable departure.
That's where the 6-foot-7, 315-pound Freeling comes into play.
Already an NFL-ready run blocker, Freeling is notably close to being a plug-and-play successor to Williams, should the veteran and his employer ultimately decide to part ways. But, if Williams hangs around a little while longer, having Freeling as an heir apparent wouldn't be the worst outcome ever.
Regardless, the idea of grabbing Williams' replacement to kick off their 2026 draft class seems to be trending bigger for the 49ers.