Exclusive: 49ers Secretly Courting Mysterious Draft Prospects – Who’s Catching Their Eye?

Negotiations between the San Francisco 49ers and Trent Williams have once again put the spotlight on a familiar tale—one where Williams holds almost all the cards. The 49ers, caught without a solid succession plan for their aging offensive tackle, face a tricky balancing act. Their inability to replenish talent in this critical position since drafting Jaylon Moore back in 2021 means their fallback options don’t exactly inspire confidence. Meanwhile, Williams, fresh off a stellar season that earned him first-team All-Pro honors and top-tier grades from Pro Football Focus, isn’t in any rush to back down from demanding a contract that reflects his high market value. Releasing him would cost the team a hefty dead-money hit and inevitably trigger costly roster moves in areas of pressing need—wide receiver and edge rusher, to name two. The confrontation feels all too familiar, echoing past episodes where Williams held his ground against the 49ers’ negotiation tactics. As the financial chess match unfolds, tension brews with the usual push-and-pull: the player searching for security and fairness, the team wrestling with cap constraints and risk. Yet, beneath the surface of these deal dynamics, the organization is also turning its eyes toward the NFL Combine, evaluating fresh talent like speedy edge rushers and promising defensive backs to shape the squad’s future. It’s a pivotal moment that captures both the challenge and thrill of pro football’s business side—where strategy, swagger, and stakes intersect. LEARN MORE

New Trent Williams standoff, same story: He owns all the leverage (paywall)
“For starters, the 49ers aren’t well-positioned to play take-it-or-leave-it hardball because they’ve neglected a succession plan as Williams has aged. The 49ers haven’t drafted an offensive tackle since they selected since-departed Jaylon Moore in the fifth round in 2021, meaning journeyman Austen Pleasants, 28, is the next man up on their current roster.

The 49ers also lack leverage because, if Williams is slipping, it’s not to the point that he can’t reasonably demand to be paid at or near the top of the market. He can stand his ground after he was a first-team All-Pro last season who played in 18 of 19 games and ranked third among offensive tackles, according to Pro Football Focus’ grading system.

The 49ers could release Williams. But doing so would trigger a $34.15 million dead-money charge, less than $5 million than the $38.8 million cap charge Williams currently carries that the 49ers want to decrease. And if they part with Williams? They’ll have to spend significant resources in free agency or the draft to find his replacement during an offseason in which wide receiver and edge rusher are screaming roster needs.

The 49ers don’t appear to be in a good place to negotiate with their blindside protector. And that should feel familiar.

In March 2021, after Williams’ first season with the 49ers following his trade from the Commanders, he was poised to accept a free-agent contract from the Chiefs. Before doing so, however, he made good on his pledge to call head coach Kyle Shanahan to give the 49ers a chance to counter any offer.

The gist of Williams’ no-nonsense message to Shanahan as he stood outside a Houston restaurant: Tell chief contract negotiator Paraag Marathe to give me more money — and make it snappy.”

“I heard the same thing from NFL sources this week that I heard in the weeks and months before ESPN reported that Williams and the 49ers were struggling to come to an agreement, which the report heavily implied could lead to the 49ers releasing Williams before they’d have to make a $10 million up-front payment.

Kawakami: Trent Williams’ inevitable 49ers money, why negotiations get weird, and more (paywall)
“Umm, no, my NFL sources said. Unless something crazy happens, the 49ers intend to add more guaranteed money to Williams’ deal and Williams, who turns 38 in July, intends to be with the 49ers through the rest of his career.

Certainly, the financial terms have to be figured out. Definitely, there could be, as there almost always is with the 49ers and high-profile players, some tension during the back and forth. The player wants more. The team wants to pay less. And guaranteeing future money gets riskier as players age. ….For this negotiation, maybe the 49ers’ negotiators tossed out a big-bluff, “hey, we don’t have to pay you anything, starting with that $10 million.” And the ESPN report easily could’ve been the Williams camp’s loud retort — yeah, go ahead. Because they’d know the 49ers were just bluffing. It’s part of the process, I guess.“

Ten prospects for the 49ers to watch this week, including Omar Cooper and Kenyon Sadiq (paywall)
“Raheem Morris’ arrival as defensive coordinator means the 49ers will likely consider more small, speedy edge rushers than they’ve scouted in the past. There are a lot of those in this year’s draft, including Oklahoma’s R Mason Thomas and Texas Tech’s Romello Height.

[Texas AM DE Cashius] Howell might be the best of the sub-250-pounders, finishing with 11.5 sacks and 14 tackles for loss last season. Howell’s GTFO time — a 49ers calculus that determines a lineman’s explosion — ought to catch defensive line coach Kris Kocurek’s eye in the run-up to the draft.

49ers meet with safety, defensive tackle, linebacker at NFL Combine
“According to Chase Senior of Chat Sports, the 49ers conducted a formal interview with former Ole Miss defensive tackle Zxavian Harris…”He is 6’7”, 320 lbs. Had three sacks and three passes defended in 2025,” Senior wrote….He delivered his most productive season in 2025, recording 58 tackles and three sacks while anchoring the Rebels’ defensive front.

Senior also reported that San Francisco held an informal meeting with former Oregon linebacker Bryce Boettcher. The 49ers previously connected with Boettcher during Senior Bowl week.

“Oregon LB, Bryce Boettcher, who was drafted in the 13th round of the 2024 MLB Draft as a center fielder, has met informally with the San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles,” Senior wrote.

Additionally, Senior noted that the 49ers met with former Texas safety Michael Taaffe at the Combine.

“He went from walk-on to becoming a star player, All-American, and key leader for Texas,” Senior wrote.”

49ers meet with Georgia CB Daylen Everette at NFL Scouting Combine
Everette (6-0, 193) spent four seasons at Georgia, developing into one of the SEC’s top defensive backs. Over his collegiate career, he recorded 150 total tackles, five tackles for loss, one sack, five interceptions, and 19 passes defensed, along with two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries, according to Sports Reference.

In 2025, Everette finished with 50 tackles, one interception, and a career-high 10 passes defensed. He also returned a fumble for a touchdown and earned first-team All-SEC honors.”