Report: 49ers won’t exercise Trent Williams’ $10M bonus amid contract standoff
“Williams’ salary cap number now will grow to close to $47 million, but the team is not overly concerned about it,” Schefter wrote, “and it still is planning to rework his contract before next month’s NFL Draft.”
Barrows: 49ers NFL Draft big board: Edges, wideouts, tackles — and more — who fit the SF profile (paywall)
“After drafting a sturdy, pocket-collapsing defensive end last season in Mykel Williams, the 49ers — last in sacks in 2025 — need to find a pass-rush specialist. Perhaps the archetype is the Los Angeles Rams’ Byron Young, a third-rounder in 2023 when new 49ers defensive coordinator Raheem Morris held the same role with the Rams.
Round 1: Cashius Howell, Texas A&M. If his arms were an inch and half longer, there’d be no way he drops this far (27th pick). He’s quick, elastic and productive, and he looks comfortable when asked to drop into coverage.
Others: Akheem Mesidor, Miami; Zion Young, Missouri; T.J. Parker, Clemson; R. Mason Thomas, Oklahoma
Round 2: Jaishawn Barham, Michigan. Barham mostly played inside linebacker at Michigan but has the traits — length, speed, aggression — to be a versatile chess piece, including as an edge rusher. The second round might be early for Barham. But he seems ideal for a Morris-coached defense, and the 49ers no longer have a third-round pick.
Others: Malachi Lawrence, Central Florida; Derrick Moore, Michigan; Romello Height, Texas Tech; Dani Dennis-Sutton, Penn State
Round 4: Keyron Crawford, Auburn. Considering he was a basketball player until his senior year of high school, Crawford is a bit of a developmental prospect. Still, he took a leap last season at Auburn and still has room to grow.
Others: Trey Moore, Texas; Nadame Tucker, Western Michigan.”
Behind the Curtain: Clemson DT Peter Woods (paywall)
“I would not feel comfortable drafting him in Round 1. He doesn’t have elite explosive measurable. His arms are stumpy, and his entire approach relies on him establishing a contact with a lineman’s chest.
Once he establishes that contact, he’s got great torque and upper-body strength to be able to shed blocks. But as a truly stumpy boi who’s not a consistent lower-half driver, and plays with ugly pad level… I am concerned. I’m having trouble finding an excellent comp for him.
The upside is if you believe he can be coached. He’s 21, has strength in his upper half, plus that torque, so you could be convinced he’s just been coached poorly. But the lack of pure explosion is concerning.
I wouldn’t start to consider him until the second half of Round 2. And he’s going to have be a gap-splitting 3-technique, not someone who two-gaps for you. It’s just a little bit of a tight needle to have to thread on someone with some physical limitations and exactly one type of attack plan. But if you love your D-line coach, he’s a project who might be outstanding in two or three years, with year one flashes.
But I believe there are more well-rounded prospects with higher floors in this class available on Day 3.“
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