Washington OL Carver Willis drafted by San Francisco 49ers
Washington Huskies offensive lineman Carver Willis was drafted in the fourth round of the NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday.
Carver Willis will have an opportunity to compete for a starting job right away with his new NFL team. The Washington offensive lineman was selected by the San Francisco 49ers with the 127th overall pick in the fourth round on Saturday, making him the fourth Husky off the board behind Denzel Boston, Tacario Davis, and Jonah Coleman. Pro Dawg @carverwillis75 is headed to the Bay.
@49ers pic. twitter. com/WKODfBdKe0 ā Washington Football (@UW_Football) April 25, 2026 Willis started 10 games at left tackle for the Huskies this season after transferring in from Kansas State, where he had started 18 games at right tackle through five seasons.
He missed three games with a knee injury he suffered against Ohio State, but returned and solidified the perimeter for a Washington offensive line that took massive strides between 2024 and 2025. A Senior Bowl invite, Willis spent the week in Mobile, Alabama, playing all five positions on the offensive line, which he told media members was the first time he played guard or center. He also snapped at Washington's pro day to showcase his versatility to NFL teams, telling media after the fact that he knows that he will likely not be a tackle at the next level due to his frame.
A perfect fit in San Francisco's wide zone scheme due to his quickness off the snap and proficiency as a puller in the run game, Willis will compete with 2024 7th round pick Connor Colby for playing time at left guard with the 49ers. Colby started 6 games for San Francisco last season. The Athletic's Dane Brugler had this to say about Willis in his draft guide, The Beast: "Willis is at his best sealing and finishing in the run game, but his ability to stay on an NFL field will depend on how he protects his edges and anchors in pass protection.