49ers 7-round mock draft: Can San Francisco find a Trent Williams successor?

The NFC West reigned supreme in the NFL last season with the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks and the NFC runner-up Los Angeles Rams.

The San Francisco 49ers were one game away from winning the division over both of them.

San Francisco weathered injuries to stars on defense, including Nick Bosa and Fred Warner, as well as starting quarterback Brock Purdy. The 49ers stayed afloat with Mac Jones at quarterback, but eventually ran out of run in the divisional playoffs, which ended in a 41-6 loss to Seattle.

San Francisco wasted little time making major changes this offseason. Multiple-time Pro Bowler Mike Evans signed a three-year deal to bolster the wide receiver room. The 49ers sent their third-round pick to Dallas for defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa, a productive pass rusher on the interior, to help as recent draft picks develop.

There are still some question marks entering another year under coach Kyle Shanahan and Purdy. Tight end George Kittle will spend the offseason recovering from an Achilles injury and left tackle Trent Williams may not return amid contract disputes with the franchise.

That makes this another crucial draft for the 49ers. They currently have six selections to work with in the 2026 NFL Draft and here's how they could use them:

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San Francisco 49ers mock draftRound 1, No. 27 overall: OT Caleb Lomu, Utah

San Francisco addressed a lot of needs on offense to avoid pigeonholing themselves in Round 1. This move assumes Trent Williams returns to the team in 2026. Lomu started at left tackle for the Utes and showed flashes of his tools but needs more development.

With Williams back in the 49ers' building, Lomu can compete for the starting left guard spot and take his time before eventually taking over for Williams. It's a similar idea to the Green Bay Packers' plan for Jordan Morgan.

Round 2, No. 58 overall: Edge Gabe Jacas, Illinois

San Francisco had one of the least effective pass rushes in the NFL in 2026. Much of that can be attributed to Nick Bosa's season-ending injury but the team needs more than just him.

The 49ers traded for Osa Odighizuwa to get more pass rush up the middle and address that more with Jacas off the edge. He's a pass rush specialist with a high motor who should balance out 2025 first-round pick Mykel Williams, who is more of a run defender at this time.

Round 4, No. 127 overall: IOL Trey Zuhn III, Texas A&M

Zuhn was a career left tackle for the Aggies but his shorter frame will necessitate a move inside, likely to guard or center. Starting center Jake Brendel is hitting free agency next offseason and will be in his mid-30s, making Zuhn a potential succession plan.

His shorter frame and limited overall athleticism will keep him on the inside. His burst off the line, a track record of success on combination blocks and a good anchor in pass protection give him a solid floor. He could compete for a starting guard job as well or develop into the team's center of the future.

Round 4, No. 133 overall: S VJ Payne, Kansas State

The 49ers went to the Wildcats secondary for a safety in the 2025 NFL Draft when they drafted Marques Sigle in the fifth round. They go back to that well in this mock draft scenario with a guy who can potentially shore up the secondary.

Payne took a step in coverage and set career-bests in passer rating allowed when targeted (57.4) and reception rate (47.2%) despite playing a career-high in snaps in 2025. He played in the box, slot and free safety alignments, offering Raheem Morris some versatility.

Round 4, No. 138 overall: WR Deion Burks, Oklahoma

San Francisco needs more speed on offense; that's why the 49ers brought in Christian Kirk. Burks would be hard to pass up if he's on the board late in the fourth round here.

Burks is undersized at 5-foot-10 and 180 pounds but ran a 4.30-second 40-yard dash and that shows up on tape with his twitchy movement in and out of cuts. Shanahan could design reverses and jet sweeps to maximize his talents.

Round 4, No. 139 overall: Edge George Gumbs Jr., Florida

Gumbs is a former wide receiver with just three years of experience at edge. He's smaller at 6-foot-4 and 245 pounds but has great burst off the line with a high motor. The tools are there, but he needs more development in technique to be a long-term contributor.

If Morris uses his penny" fronts that go five-wide on the defensive line, Gumbs could develop as a threat to rush off the edge at outside linebacker. His background as a wide receiver and tight end would also help him understand coverage.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 49ers 2026 NFL mock draft: San Francisco builds OL, lands speedy WR