PFF ranks Trent Williams as the NFL’s best tackle

Ranking season has kicked off over at Pro Football Focus. Brock Purdy recently came in at No. 23 in the analytics site’s ranking of NFL quarterbacks. Now, Pro Football Focus has turned its attention to offensive tackles. While there are some question marks along the San Francisco 49ers’ offensive line, left tackle is not one of them.

Trent Williams has earned a grade of 91.9 or higher in each of his three seasons with the 49ers, including a career-high and Pro Football Focus all-time best mark of 97.8 in 2021. The 34-year-old has been the highest-graded tackle in each season since 2020.

Williams allowed only 15 pressures and one sack through 14 regular-season games last season. He allowed four pressures in the 49ers’ three playoff games.

Pro Football Focus’ Gordon McGuinness has the 49ers’ All-Pro offensive lineman ranked as the best tackle in football.

“Williams has been with the 49ers for three seasons now and has finished all three with the highest PFF grade among offensive tackles,” wrote McGuinness. “From 526 pass-blocking snaps in the regular season and playoffs last season, he allowed 19 total pressures, just three of which were hits or sacks.”

Former 49ers right tackle Mike McGlinchey, now with the Denver Broncos, came in at No. 21 on the list.

“2023 will be a big season for McGlinchey, who didn’t look quite as good over the past two seasons as he did in his first three with the San Francisco 49ers,” wrote McGuinness. “Even considering that, he has yet to finish any of his five NFL seasons with a PFF grade lower than 69.0.”

The Broncos signed McGlinchey to a five-year, $87.5 million deal in free agency.