Alabama defensive tackle Quinnen Williams has a case to be a top two pick. Some would argue he’s the best player in the draft. It doesn’t appear to be in the cards for him to go to the 49ers with the No. 2 overall pick, but that could change a bit after the announcement of DeMarcus Lawrence’s huge new contract with the Cowboys.
It’s certainly not a direct connection, but the price of Lawrence’s deal will ostensibly set the market for 49ers’ pass-rushing defensive tackle DeForest Buckner. He’s now eligible for an extension going into the fourth year of his rookie deal.
Williams would effectively play the same position as Buckner in the 49ers’ defense. Buckner looks like a foundational piece of San Francisco’s defensive front, so the idea of bringing in a player with the No. 2 overall pick who was going to see his snaps diminished by Buckner didn’t seem prudent.
Now San Francisco might look at Buckner’s situation a little differently. If the 49ers believe Buckner’s representatives will want something more than Lawrence, they could determine a defensive tackle isn’t worth that kind of money – especially if we see a dip in his productivity at all over the next two or three years.
If that is the case, then perhaps Williams becomes a more valuable player at the top of the draft for a 49ers club that values pass rush over anything on defense. San Francisco can keep Buckner for another couple years on his rookie deal with his fifth-year option, then they can let him walk in free agency and replace him with Williams.
This, of course, would hinge on the 49ers believing Williams can become the caliber of player Buckner is. That’s a high bar to clear in a pre-draft evaluation. It’s equally unlikely because it’s not easy finding defensive tackles who can get through for 12.0 sacks in a season on a defensive front where he is by far the most-feared player. Buckner is also a big presence in the locker room and a player who quickly earned the respect of his teammates. Letting him walk in free agency could be a disaster on multiple levels.
It’s still worth keeping an eye on come draft day. San Francisco has some intriguing decisions to make with the second pick. If they do wind up taking Williams, it may just be a ‘best player available pick.’ On the other hand, it could be a move made with 2021 and beyond in mind, knowing Buckner might go beyond their price range. In that event they’d have Williams to replace Buckner right away.
Letting a Pro Bowl-caliber defensive tackle leave is not a likely scenario for San Francisco, but it’s certainly a possibility, and Williams could be the long-term answer if the 49ers make the tough decision that Buckner is too expensive.
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