John Lynch, San Francisco 49ers
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(Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
The San Francisco 49ers could be looking to bolster their offensive line for the 2026 NFL season, and one insider believes that a veteran who remains a free agent might be a potential target.
San Francisco is in win-now mode, which is why they have added players like Dre Greenlaw, Mike Evans, and Christian Kirk, among others. Nonetheless, could the Niners be looking at another veteran player to reach the Super Bowl this upcoming season?
David Lombardi, who covers the 49ers for the SF Standard, floated Cleveland Browns free agent Joel Bitonio as a potential name to look out for to bolster the left guard position.
“Those of you unfamiliar with Joel Bitonio, he’s been one of the great guards in the NFL over the course of the past decade, decade-and-a-half,”Lombardi said in a March 29 video on his YouTube channel. “He has been with the Cleveland Browns for all of that time. His first season in the NFL was 2014.Kyle Shanahan was the offensive coordinatorof the Browns in 2014…
“Joel Bitonio is a potential target if he doesn’t retire. He’s at age 34, but he has still been playing really good football. And if you want to talk about building a dominant left side of the offensive line, well, Trent Williams is still a dominant player.”
Bitonio finished the 2025 season with a 70.7 overall PFF grade, placing him 23rd among 81 qualifying offensive guards, logging 1,081 offensive snaps.In pass protection, he earned a 75.7 grade while his run-blocking grade of 64.4.
Moreover, Bitonio allowed 31 total pressures, including two sacks and one hit, and was penalized once throughout the season. The veteran is currently weighing whether to return for a 13th NFL season — in Cleveland or elsewhere — or walk away from the game entirely.
49ers Insider Gives Latest on Trent Williams
Speaking of Trent Williams, on March 29, the SF Standard’s David Lombardi shared the latest on the 49ers’ plans to resolve the situation with their veteran offensive lineman.
“John Lynch says that 49ers’ talks with Trent Williams have ‘intensified’ over the past week,”Lombardi wrote on X. “He thinks ‘we’re on the precipice of something good.'”
In 2025, Williams played 996 snaps for the 49ers, allowing four sacks and eight hits while committing four penalties.PFF gave him an overall grade of 91.5, ranking him third among all offensive tackles.
Furthermore, his run-blocking grade was 92.8, while his pass-blocking grade was 79.9. Williams gave up 32 total pressures in pass protection, including four sacks and eight hits.
Richard Sherman Gets Blunt About Trent Williams Situation
Amid this concerning issue, former 49ers cornerbackRichard Sherman weighed in on whether San Francisco would be willing to cut ties with Williams this offseason.
“I think they’ve gotten frustrated, not with Trent Williams, but just with the dead‑money situation that they’ve run into year after year,” Sherman said onthe March 26 edition of “The Richard Sherman Podcast.”
“I think they’ve been among the top dead‑money teams for the last few years because of Javon Hargrave’s contract,Deebo Samuel, and so many other guys that they’ve had to part ways with for whatever reason.
“They’re trying to get away from that. I don’t think they want to throw more dead money into the future. I think they’re trying to take their licks now. Again, I haven’t talked to John [Lynch] or Kyle [Shanahan], but I obviously don’t see them getting rid of Trent Williams.”