As the San Francisco 49ers enter the final stretch of the regular season, the roster seems to be hanging by a thread once again. Through impossible injury luck, the Niners are already without multiple key starters on both sides of the ball.
If this franchise is going to continue its winning ways, the roster needs to be replenished. There are more than a few areas of need, but the offensive line is one area that the front office will likely focus on next offseason.
Luckily, there are plenty of quality prospects throughout the 2026 NFL Draft class.
2026 NFL Draft offers 49ers solutions to offensive line needs
49ers’ fits on Day 1
The strength of this offensive line class doesn’t come at the top. In fact, there are only a couple of O-line prospects who are expected to go in the first round. One of them is Utah offensive tackle Spencer Fano. He’s currently a right tackle but could switch to the left as a long-term replacement for Trent Williams.
While he may be a bit of a reach in the first round, Penn State guard Olaivavega Ioane is another name to monitor.
49ers’ fits on Day 2
If San Francisco chooses to wait until day two to address the O-line, another Utah tackle could be a good fit. Caleb Lomu is a developmental left tackle with the tools to become a quality starter for years to come. Iowa’s Gennings Dunker is another interesting prospect to watch here. He’s currently a tackle but is expected to move inside in the NFL.
In the third round, fans should pay attention to Auburn center Connor Lew. He may choose to return to school next year, but he’d provide excellent value in this range.
Other names to monitor include Stanford tackle Niki Prongos and Texas tackle Trevor Goosby.
49ers’ fits on Day 3
A bit further down the board, keep an eye on Auburn tackle Xavier Chaplin. At 6-foot-7, he has the ideal frame for an NFL tackle. There are still some rough spots in his game, but he could absolutely benefit from learning behind Williams if he’s still around. Ohio State guard Ethan Okinawa could also be a good fit. He’s taken a step back since transferring, but his tape at Rice shows starter-level quality.
Other prospects to monitor near the end of the draft include Nebraska tackle Elijah Pritchett and Missouri center Connor Tollison.