Spencer Burford and Jake Brendel
Getty
With injuries mounting along the offensive line, the 49ers brought in five players for a tryout on Tuesday
The San Francisco 49ers could be on the cusp of losing one of their best overall offensive linemen. In fact, they could be losing him to another team from the state of California. According to ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler, veteran guard Spencer Burford is visiting the Los Angeles Chargers this week. A former fourth-round pick out of the University of Texas-San Antonio in 2022, Burford has proven to be a significant piece in the trenches for 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan.
The San Francisco 49ers May Need to Draft Multiple Offensive Linemen
John Lynch
Getty49ers GM John Lynch could prioritize the offensive line in this year’s NFL Draft.
Burford has been an important role player for the Niners over the last four seasons. As Fowler noted, he has started 38 out of the 56 total games that he has played in. Now, he could be rewarded in free agency with a potential deal coming from a team that isn’t in Santa Clara.
Jeremy Fowler
Free agent OG Spencer Burford is visiting the Los Angeles Chargers, per source. He arrived there tonight.
Burford started 38 games for San Francisco over four seasons.
Furthermore, Burford is not the only 49ers offensive lineman who could be on the way out the door. Remember, 12-time Pro Bowl left tackle Trent Williams is in the middle of another contract dispute with the front office. The 37-year-old is set to have a bronze bust with his name on it in Canton, Ohio, when his career is over. But with a trade or release being potential options for himself and the Niners, his 49ers career could be coming to a close.
While the organization did sign veteran offensive lineman Brett Toth to a one-year deal earlier in free agency, losing potentially both Burford and Williams could be tough to overcome. With six picks inside the first four rounds of the upcoming NFL Draft, look for the offensive line to be addressed by 49ers GM John Lynch.
A Super Bowl Is A Move or Two Away for the 49ers
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan
GettySan Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan is still looking for his first Super Bowl win.
If the Niners can find a way to get some answers along the offensive line, as well as make a couple of splash draft picks, their chances of bringing a Super Bowl back to the Bay Area for the first time in over three decades could increase exponentially. While they play in arguably the toughest division in the NFL, along with the 12-win Los Angeles Rams and Super Bowl-champion Seattle Seahawks, they did hold their own in 2025.
Remember, they won 12 games in the regular season and went 4-2 in the division. While they did fall in the postseason to the Seahawks, they were also missing a couple of their All-Pro players in edge-rusher Nick Bosa and linebacker Fred Warner at the time.
Like most of head coach Kyle Shanahan’s teams over the last decade, this 49ers team has a high ceiling for 2026. That much is true even before the team has made its selections in the NFL Draft. With the notable addition of future Hall of Fame wide receiver Mike Evans, San Francisco is clearly looking to go all the way to February.