Proctor.
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Proctor has great size and power.
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nly two weeks after the Seattle Seahawks won Super Bowl LX, the NFL Draft Combine is the new talk of the town. Set to take place in Indianapolis from Feb. 26-March 1, the top prospects will get their first chance to showcase their skills in front of NFL scouts, coaches and other personnel and impress ahead of the draft. For the players who got invited, the combine is the chance to raise their draft stock and prove that they have what it takes to be day one starters.
But even though the combine has not happened yet, several analysts and insiders have released mock drafts and given their thoughts on where they think prospects will be drafted. Multiple first round mock drafts have already come out and for the San Francisco 49ers, there have been multiple projections on who they think will be selected with their first round pick. In ESPN insider Mel Kiper’s latest mock draft, the 49ers are projected to take the future replacement for Hall of Fame left tackle, Trent Williams, in Alabama’s Kadyn Proctor.
Kiper Predicts Proctor Goes to the 49ers at No. 27
Even though the 49ers experienced major injury issues and were never a real threat, they still finished 12-5 and made it all the way to the divisional round of the playoffs, securing them the 27th overall pick in the draft. In recent seasons, the 49ers have drafted either skill position players or defensive help in the first round, but according to Kiper, Proctor may be just what the 49ers need– even if he does not fit the team’s draft strategy on paper.
“Proctor’s tape is all over the place. The highs are really, really good. The lows raise a lot of questions. But in the right situation, he could become a standout tackle in the NFL,” Kiper said. “And there might not be a better situation than learning behind one of the best to ever do it in San Francisco. Trent Williams will be 38 by Week 1, and he’s entering the final year of his contract. So, Proctor could develop in Year 1 while kicking inside to guard and/or playing a swing tackle role before perhaps taking over for Williams in 2027. He has 40 career starts — all at left tackle — and is reliable in pass protection. This would be an upside pick for GM John Lynch.”
While on the bigger side, standing at 6-foot-6 and weighing 366 pounds, Proctor is very athletic and if drafted by the 49ers, could use the ’26 season to develop behind Williams before taking the reins when he retires and preventing a drop-off at the left tackle position.
Proctor’s Upside
Proctor’s athleticism is impressive given how big of a player he has always been. Despite being 400 pounds as a freshman before shedding some weight, Proctor’s vertical jump is 32 inches– 97th percentile– and is able to squat 815 pounds, bench 535 pounds and power clean 405 pounds. Given how important it is for a team’s left tackle to move well and have immense strength, Proctor could be the perfect plug and play for the 49ers once Williams decides to call it quits.