Are the 49ers About to Draft Trent Williams’ Successor? A Rising Star Could Be Waiting at Pick No. 11

Just a week before the 49ers report for training camp this summer, Trent Williams will officially turn 37. At an age when many players have already retired, the 11-time Pro Bowler is still anchoring San Francisco’s offensive line.

But even though John Lynch, the 49ers’ president of football operations and general manager, confirmed Williams will return for the 2025 season, the reality is clear: San Francisco has to start preparing for life after Trent Williams.

And that preparation could start as soon as the 2025 NFL Draft, where the 49ers hold the No. 11 overall pick.

Armand Membou – The Unexpected Heir to the 49ers’ Left Tackle Throne?

One name that’s suddenly gaining serious traction for the 49ers is Armand Membou, the offensive lineman who turned heads with his performance at the NFL Scouting Combine. In fact, Membou was the 49ers’ projected first-round pick in NBC Sports Bay Area’s latest mock draft.

The connection between Membou and the 49ers goes deeper than speculation — Membou himself revealed that he had a formal interview with the team during the Combine. And there’s one player he studies closely: Trent Williams.

“I love watching Trent,” Membou said, clearly excited about the possibility of following in the legend’s footsteps.

From Missouri’s Right Tackle to Potential Franchise Left Tackle

At Missouri, Membou spent most of his time playing right tackle, which raises the question: Can he transition to left tackle in the NFL? Some teams even view him as a potential guard at the next level.

But whether at tackle or guard, one thing is clear — Membou is a rare talent. Standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 332 pounds, he possesses elite athleticism for his size.

Membou’s Combine Numbers: Eerily Similar to Trent Williams

Toward the end of the Combine, NFL Network showed an eye-popping stat. Since 2003, only three offensive linemen weighing 315 pounds or more have recorded a vertical jump of 30 inches or higher and a sub-5.00 second 40-yard dash.

One of those linemen? Trent Williams.
The other two? Armand Membou and LSU’s Will Campbell.

Membou’s Combine results:
 Vertical jump: 34 inches
 40-yard dash: 4.91 seconds

Compare that to Williams’ 2010 Combine numbers:
 Height/weight: 6-5, 315 pounds
 Vertical jump: 34.5 inches
 40-yard dash: 4.88 seconds

The resemblance is impossible to ignore.

Membou vs. Campbell: Is There a New Top Offensive Lineman in the Draft?

Until recently, Will Campbell was the consensus top offensive lineman in this draft class. But after Membou’s jaw-dropping Combine, some are starting to wonder if he could leapfrog Campbell.

The one knock on Campbell? His shorter arms, measuring just 32 5/8 inches — compared to Membou’s 33 1/2 inches.

Will Membou Last Until Pick No. 11?

The biggest question for the 49ers now: Will Membou even still be available when they’re on the clock at No. 11? If he is, it could be too perfect to pass up — giving the 49ers a chance to pair Membou with Trent Williams, allowing the young lineman to learn from one of the best to ever play the position.

All eyes will be on April 24, when the draft kicks off. And if Membou ends up wearing red and gold, it won’t just be a draft pick — it will be the official beginning of the post-Trent Williams era in San Francisco.