The San Francisco 49ers will have the No. 11 pick in April’s NFL draft after finishing 6-11 in 2024. Despite their injury-plagued season, the team maintains one of the league’s strongest rosters but faces decisions about aging veterans.
CBS Sports analysts Ryan Wilson and Mike Renner project the 49ers to trade up to the No. 9 spot with the New Orleans Saints in their latest mock draft on the “With the First Pick” podcast. They predict San Francisco will select Kelvin Banks Jr., offensive tackle from Texas.
“I think everyone’s going to want to jump the Bears for an OT if you want one,” Renner said via CBS Sports. “… Trent Williams is getting up there, man. I know he’s ageless, but he’s getting up there. They need any help they can get along their offensive line.”
Trent Williams, 36, enters the 2025 season as the team’s starting left tackle. Reports indicate he’s considering retirement this offseason. The nine-time Pro Bowler has anchored San Francisco’s offensive line but showed signs of wear during the 2024 campaign.
Banks emerged as Texas’s top NFL prospect during his final season. NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein notes that “his run blocking is more pro-ready than his pass protection.” A Bleacher Report scouting analysis describes Banks as a “skilled pass protector with good athletic ability who works effectively on combination blocks and can line up targets on the move.”
The 49ers’ offensive line struggled to protect quarterback Brock Purdy consistently in 2024. Right guard Dominick Puni had a standout rookie season, but the team needs additional talent across the offensive front.
