For the San Francisco 49ers, the Super Bowl is certainly still open, but the hinges also surely need oiling. Fans have seen this film before. The Niners brim with All-Pro talent, a solid coaching staff, and a savvy front office. As fans look toward the 2026 NFL season, though, the urgency has shifted from a low hum to a noticeable rumble. To return to the Super Bowl, GM John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan must move beyond the conventional. They need a maneuver that shocks the system in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft.
The wild but brilliant move is clear: trade up into the top five and secure a cornerstone tackle in Francis Mauigoa. It’s aggressive, expensive, and undeniably risky. However, it’s also exactly the kind of forward-thinking swing that separates sustained contenders from teams that slowly fade into irrelevance.
Aggression in free agency
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San Francisco entered the 2026 free agency period needing to maximize the current championship window by surrounding Brock Purdy with proven, veteran firepower. The headliner was undoubtedly the signing of Mike Evans. He brings a vertical gravity that this offense has lacked. By pairing Evans with Ricky Pearsall and George Kittle, the 49ers have effectively built a “no-fly zone” for opposing secondaries. Oh, they also brought in another seasoned pass-catcher in Christian Kirk.
Beyond that, the front office focused on stabilizing the defensive interior and the depth chart. The trade for defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa was a stroke of pragmatic genius. Adding veteran offensive lineman Brett Toth provided much-needed insurance. Now, sure, these moves solidified the floor of the roster. However, they also narrowed the focus for the draft. The 49ers have spent their capital on the “now.” That means their draft picks must be used on high-impact, foundational pieces for the future.
The glaring void on the offensive perimeter
Despite the veteran reinforcements, a massive shadow looms over the San Francisco offensive line. That’s the inevitable transition away from the legendary Trent Williams. Yes, Williams remains the gold standard for left tackles. That said, the 2026 season marks another year closer to the sunset of a Hall of Fame career. The 49ers’ biggest need is a blue-chip, cornerstone tackle who can survive on an island. To truly unlock Shanahan’s run-heavy, zone-blocking scheme, the Niners need an elite mover. They need someone with the lateral agility to reach the second level and the raw power to anchor against the NFC West’s evolving pass-rushers.
Moving up for Francis Mauigoa
The wild but brilliant move the 49ers must make in the 2026 NFL Draft is a massive trade-up into the top five to select offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa. Conventional wisdom suggests that San Francisco should stay put and draft for value. However, the value of a generational tackle is immeasurable. Mauigoa is a mountain of a man with the footwork of a tight end. He has the rare ability to displace defenders in the run game while providing a clean pocket.
By executing a jump of 10 or more spots, the 49ers would be proactive about dominating the post-Williams era. Mauigoa fits the 49ers’ identity perfectly. He is a violent finisher who plays with the “nasty” streak. Pairing him with a veteran like Williams for even one season would be a masterclass in succession planning
Of course, it is a wild move because it exhausts draft capital. On the flip side, it addresses the single most important position for long-term offensive stability. In a league where elite tackles are rarely allowed to reach free agency, the draft is the only place to find a titan. For the 49ers, the time to hunt is now.
Finding value
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In many ways, this is the ultimate bridge move. It connects the current championship window to the next one. It prevents the kind of offensive regression that often follows the departure of a generational player like Williams.
The 49ers have built their reputation on finding value late in the draft. They develop talent better than anyone in the league. Of course, even the best teams must occasionally break their own rules. This is one of those moments. If San Francisco wants to avoid becoming a cautionary tale, they must act boldly. Trading up for Francis Mauigoa is the perfect bold move to make.
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