The San Francisco 49ers are trying to put out a fire as it pertains to All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams. The two sides are trying to work out some sort of contract, and Williams seemingly has all the leverage in the situation.
This could all force the Niners to reunite with an offensive lineman whom they probably wished they could move on from this offseason: Spencer Burford.
The multi-use lineman is set to be a free agent, and the 49ers were probably content to let him go, given his struggles. But he served as a swing tackle for San Francisco and has seen some time at left tackle, so he might be an emergency fallback option if the Niners and Williams are not able to figure the situation out.
Burford was drafted in 2022 and started all 16 games he played that year, but he saw his playing time dwindle over the following seasons, and unfortunately, his most memorable moment with the team came in the Super Bowl against the Kansas City Chiefs when he missed a block assignment in overtime while playing right guard, which may have cost San Francisco the game.Â
Burford didn’t start any games in 2024, but he played a role in 2025 as a left guard after the roster experienced a number of injuries at the position. Pro Football Focus gave him a 58.9 grade for the 2025 season, and he graded out as a better run blocker than a pass blocker.
He was serviceable as a guard, but as a tackle, it could be a completely different story. If the 49ers had to roll with Burford as their left tackle in 2026 because Williams holds out or because of any injury, the drop off would be huge. The Niners would probably have to bring in someone else or potentially draft a tackle so they at least had some other options, but bringing back Burford would at least give them someone who could fill in just in case.
Obviously, making sure Williams stays with San Francisco is Plan A. Even at this stage of his career, he is one of the best tackles in the NFL. The 49ers are just so much better with him out there, and imagining the offense going up against a stout defensive line like the Seattle Seahawks without Williams, as they did in Week 18 last season, is enough to make the stomach churn.
Williams deserves a ton of credit for playing in the playoffs last season on a bad hamstring. He injured it in Week 17 against the Chicago Bears but was willing to suit up at less than full strength to help in the postseason.
The Niners need to make sure he’s happy, but just in case this whole situation deteriorates, they may have to bring back Burford even though they were probably preparing for his departure.