The Ultimate Gamble: Can the 49ers Survive a Draft Without an Offensive Lineman?
Could the 49ers gamble on defense and playmakers, bypassing offensive linemen entirely? Explore this bold draft strategy and its potential consequences.
While it is widely assumed the San Francisco 49ers are going to select an offensive lineman at some point during the 2026 NFL Draft, can the 49ers have a successful draft without taking a single blocker? At this point, with the draft just days away, a "Trent Williams solution" is the only thing that could make this scenario plausible. If John Lynch and Williams can finalize their restructured deal, which reportedly includes $36 million in guarantees, before the first round kicks off, the 49ers might feel they have the luxury to pivot.
But make no mistake, ignoring the trenches entirely would be an interesting choice for a team with an aging blindside and a newly patched together interior. Using PFF’s mock draft simulator, I explored what a draft without an offensive lineman might look like. In this scenario, the 49ers lean heavily into the "best player available" (BPA) philosophy, assuming that Robert Jones and Vederian Lowe can hold the fort as depth.
The Defensive Triple Down The first three picks go to defense in this scenario, prioritizing a pass rush that managed only 20 sacks last season. Pick 27: The Niners land Malachi Lawrence from UCF. Lawrence is a board-faller here who provides the immediate speed rush ability lost when Bryce Huff retired.
Pick 58: San Francisco nets Romello Height from Texas Tech. Height was a Top 30 visit for the team and provides the "big end" versatility Raheem Morris loves. Pick 127: The 49ers double up on secondary depth with Treydan Stukes from Arizona.