49ers Combine takeaways: Why Trent Williams and Maxx Crosby are front and center
The NFL scouting combine ended Sunday, giving the football world a better look at the incoming crop of college prospects. The importance of the unofficial job fair varies depending on whom you talk to — and it’s notable that San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan has decided to stay in the Bay Area rather than trek to Indianapolis for the event in recent years.
Shanahan’s absence meant general manager John Lynch was the 49ers’ only decision maker to speak to reporters on the record. And some of the questions he answered were about all-world offensive tackle Trent Williams, the subject of a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who said Williams and San Francisco are “currently are struggling to find a contractual solution” as he enters the final year of his contract.
Which makes that the right place to start on our takeaways from the combine.
Would Trent Williams ever get to free agency?
Schefter’s report stated: “If the two sides can’t bridge their differences in their standoff, Williams would be expected to join this year’s free-agent class, making him one of the premier players available.”
It would make sense for Williams’ camp to push that idea publicly. But what’s unclear is why the 49ers would entertain releasing Williams while he’s still under contract. Barring an arrest, a severe violation of team or rules or the relationship deteriorating altogether (see: Aiyuk, Brandon), there’s little logic in the 49ers releasing Williams, even if that’s what he might want should the two sides fail to come up with an agreement on a revised contract.
Lynch sounded far more optimistic about the situation than how Schefter worded his reporting.
“Well, what I’ll tell you is that in recent weeks I’ve met with both Trent and with his agent, Vincent Taylor, and had really good, productive and substantive meetings,” Lynch told reporters.
“And so, here’s what I know: Trent loves being a Niner, we love having Trent as a Niner and it’s up to us to figure that out and to thread that needle. There are some unique circumstances in that we all know what Trent is as a player, how great of a player he’s been. He’s going to be 38 years old and so there’s some things that go into that. But, I think we’re all on the same page and feel very positive about where that’s going.”
This would be the third major contract negotiation between Williams and the 49ers since they traded for him in 2020 following the retirement of Joe Staley. It was contentious when it happened in 2024, when Williams and team couldn’t agree to terms on a deal until September, and he began practicing just days before the start of the 6-11 season. Surely the 49ers would prefer to get this done well beforehand so Williams can be with the team all summer while turning 38 on July 19.
“What I will say is we met with Vince just today (Feb. 24) and I think we’re on the right track and I know this, he’s been a tremendous asset to our organization,” Lynch said. “We love having him. My hope, and I’ve shared this with Trent, is that his name’s up in the rafters with the greats that have played for the Niners because he certainly fits that category.”
Williams has leverage. The 49ers would be in a tough spot without him given the other positions on the roster that need addressing this offseason, such as receiver and the defensive line. Losing a Hall-of-Fame caliber left tackle would be difficult to deal with.
Which is why it’s hard to envision the 49ers cutting Williams for nothing in return. If the two sides can’t agree to a new deal, a trade to a team willing to give Williams the money he wants seems likely.
Will the 49ers trade for Maxx Crosby?
The Raiders’ All-Pro defensive tackle would make for a fine bookend for the 49ers opposite Nick Bosa.
But would Lynch be willing to get into a bidding war to have two players at the same position getting paid top dollar?
That’s the question the 49ers will grapple with while they consider a move for Crosby, who might be the best player available for a trade this offseason. On paper, it makes sense. The 49ers ranked dead last in sacks in 2025 after losing Bosa in September with the third ACL tear of his football career (his first came in high school).
One thing Lynch did confirm is San Francisco will be addressing the defensive line in some fashion this spring.
“One tangible thing, we’ve always prided ourselves on our defensive front and getting after people,” Lynch said. “And last year, if you just look at the numbers, now I don’t think the numbers are always reflective. I felt like there were games where we put a lot of pressure on, but you’ve got to put the quarterback down and so that’s something that we want to address and we will address.”
If the Micah Parsons trade from the Cowboys to the Packers last year set the precedent for elite pass rushers in a trade, the 49ers would have to send away two first-round picks for the 29-year-old Crosby, who is entering the second season of a three-year, $106.5 million deal that would give him salary cap hits of $30 million and $29 million on a new team the next two seasons — unless he pushes for a new contract.
Bosa is already set to have a $41.6 million cap hit for next season making him a candidate for a restructure before the potential out on his contract in 2027.
It’s worth noting Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer did not list the 49ers as a candidate for Crosby’s services in his reporting on Monday, saying the Cowboys, Bears, Ravens, Bills, Patriots, Eagles and Rams are “keeping tabs” on Crosby’s availability.
A better bet than trading for Crosby would be San Francisco addressing the position in the draft, perhaps as early as the No. 27 pick. The draft class is believed to be deep at defensive end in the early rounds.
Receiver?
With Aiyuk on the way out, Jauan Jennings set for free agency and Ricky Pearsall still needing to prove his durability, it would be a shock if the 49ers didn’t look for a receiver early in the draft or in free agency.
Indiana’s Omar Cooper Jr., Texas Tech’s KC Concepcion, Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson, Washington’s Denzel Boston, Alabama’s Germie Bernard, and others will all be poured over by Shanahan and his lieutenants before the draft begins April 23.
Since Shanahan and Lynch took over in 2017, San Francisco taken a defensive lineman or receiver in the first two rounds 10 times out of 15 picks. So if they don’t go defensive line to address the league’s worst pass rush in rounds 1 or 2, adding a pass catcher would be a strong bet.
49ers mock draft round up
PFF: TE Kenyon Sidiq, Oregon
Our take: The 49ers could use a tight end with George Kittle coming off an Achilles tear in the playoffs, but a couple factors suggest Sidiq would be a long shot for San Francisco. His ridiculous combine showing, running the fastest 40-yard dash for a tight end in over 20 years, could mean he’s off the board by the time the 49ers pick and the earliest Shanahan and Lynch have ever taken a tight end was the third round (Cameron Latu, 2023).
The Ringer: WR KC Concepcion, Texas A&M
Our take: He dropped a lot of passes in college but profiles as the type of receiver the 49ers might covet. He projects to do well against physical man coverage given his quickness. He was named an All-American and first-team All-SEC in 2025 after posting 61 catches for 919 yards and 9 touchdowns.
Yahoo!: OT Blake Miller, Clemson USA Today: OT Caleb Lomu, Utah
Our take: We’re expecting Williams to remain with the 49ers, but they will eventually have to find a replacement. Either Miller or Lomu would make sense, and either could help right away by filling a looming vacancy at left guard before eventually shifting over to tackle when Williams retires.
CBS Sports: WR Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana
Our take: Cooper has drawn favorable comparisons to Deebo Samuel and its the mold as a versatile option Shanahan could utilize in multiple ways. Cooper will be a popular name linked to the 49ers leading up to the draft after combing to score 20 touchdowns the last two seasons for Hoosiers.
