NFL Analysis
9/3/24
4 min read
Why San Francisco 49ers, Brock Purdy Need Trent Williams
The offseason drama surrounding Trent Williams and the San Francisco 49ers is finally ending, and the rest of the offense can breathe a sigh of relief.
The 49ers and LT Trent Williams agreed to a restructured three-year, $82.66 million deal with $48 million at signing and $25.69 million via a signing bonus. That should get Williams on the field in time for the team's Week 1 matchup with the New York Jets.
The deal comes shortly after the 49ers got star WR Brandon Aiyuk back in the facility with a brand new $120 million contract extension. Superstar RB Christian McCaffrey is also returning to practice after missing the preseason with a calf injury.
However, these players have yet to have the impact that Williams has on the offense. Without him, the 49ers would have been in big trouble for the 2024 season.
Trent Williams' Impact on the 49ers offense
Even at 36 years old, Williams continues to have a massive impact on San Francisco's offense.
Williams has received numerous accolades during his career. In just four seasons with the 49ers, he has been named a four-time Pro Bowler and three-time first-team All-Pro.
Advanced stats back up the impact that Williams has had in San Francisco. Pro Football Focus had Williams as the second-highest graded offensive lineman, behind only Penei Sewell with the Detroit Lions. Williams also allowed zero sacks in 561 pass-blocking snaps, allowing only 20 total pressures.
Even against some of the league's most dominant pass rushers, Williams' size, technique, and athletic ability allowed him to keep his quarterback clean.
Trent Williams 1-on-1 vs Parsons
— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) January 23, 2023
Clinic Work. Watch those feet! Watch that inside hand! Woooo boyy pic.twitter.com/1Mr5rb0fk5
Williams' importance to the 49ers offense was highlighted even further by his two-game absence in 2023. The 49ers averaged 28.9 points per game last year, which was the third-best scoring offense in the NFL. In the two games without Williams, they averaged just 17 points per contest.
Brock Purdy's production also suffered massively in those two games. In those two games against the Minnesota Vikings and Cincinnati Bengals, Purdy threw four interceptions, a third of his total for the entire season. He was credited with six of his 21 turnover-worthy plays in that two-game stretch.
The run game also sputtered in Williams' absence. According to TruMedia, Christian McCaffrey averaged 1.95 rushing yards before contact in 2023. He averaged just 1.41 yards in those two games.
The 49ers couldn't afford that kind of dip in offensive efficiency to start the 2024 season. Now, thanks to a reworked deal, players like Purdy and McCaffrey can sleep a bit easier knowing they'll have one of the best offensive tackles in football back on the field.
49ers OL is a weak link without Williams
For as dominant as Williams has been during the last few seasons, the 49ers still have significant question marks across the rest of their offensive line.
RT Colton McKivitz returns to the same spot in 2023 after leading the team by a wide margin in pressures allowed. He was credited with 59 pressures and nine sacks allowed last season, with guard Spencer Burford coming in a distant second on the team with 37 pressures and five sacks.
The 49ers are hoping that rookie guard Dominick Puni can be an upgrade over Burford, with coach Kyle Shanahan suggesting that the third-round pick will start at right guard in Week 1. However, the rest of the interior offensive line still has question marks.
Aaron Banks and Jake Brendel are the other two projected starters at guard and center. The two combined for another 69 pressures last season.
Those weak links on the offensive line were exposed even further in San Francisco's two games without Williams. Even with Puni being a potential upgrade, any long-term absence from Williams this season could spell disaster for the 49ers offense.
