The San Francisco 49ers are easy to tab as a team who must nail the draft later this month, with 11 selections and a lot of roster holes brought on by an exodus of talent in free agency. General manager John Lynch has been clear about the priority being placed on the draft.
The idea of finding a successor for left tackle Trent Williams will be lurking as his career winds down, and continuing to play continues to be a year-to-year thing for him. It's possible the 49ers use the 11th overall pick on someone who could start immediately at one offensive line spot, then they move to left tackle when the future Hall of Famer calls it a career.
It's also fair to think the 49ers might prioritize other things with their early 2025 draft picks (four in the top-100 overall), which would then taking a possible successor for Williams to the later rounds.
With that seemingly in mind, Mason Cameron of Pro Football Focus has proposed William & Mary offensive tackle Charles Grant as a Day 3 fit for the 49ers.
Small school stud proposed as Trent Williams' successor for 49ers
"With Trent Williams' career winding down, the 49ers will be in the market to add a developmental option who can sit behind the perennial All-Pro and learn. Grant is a late bloomer but showcases raw potential with great feet, helping him capture a 93.0 PFF run-blocking grade on zone runs."-Mason Cameron, Pro Football Focus
Grant was a three-year starter (41 total starts at left tackle) and a three-time First Team All-CAA honoree at William & Mary. Last season he received the best marks of his career from Pro Football Focus (91.2 overall grade, 90.4 run blocking grade, 88.1 pass-blocking grade), with just two sacks and nine pressures allowed over 12 starts (372 pass blocking snaps.
There is of automatic concern about Grant's level of competition in college, though a good showing at the Senior Bowl was a sign that may be overblown. At 6-foot-5 and 311 pounds with 34 and 3/4 inch arms and a wingspan pushing seven feet, he is undeniably built like an NFL left tackle. The 49ers' situation allows him to not have to start immediately, which curbs concerns about the big jump from the FCS to the NFL and gives him runway to develop.
As Cameron noted and Bleacher Report's Brandon Thorn confirmed, Grant profiles as an ideal fit for a zone-based rushing scheme like the 49ers use.
B/R's NFL comp for Grant is a lofty one: the recently retired Terron Armstead.
Left tackle is not an immediate need for the 49ers, but there could be a huge void there as soon as 2026. Having so many picks in the 2025 draft opens the door to take calculated chances on some players when it fits, and Grant is a very interesting option as the potential successor to Williams.
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