Could the 49ers go after former Dolphins center Connor Williams?
The productive center is still in free agency and hopes to sign somewhere by training camp.
The San Francisco 49ers are in the dead period of the offseason, as players still have a month off before training camp begins in late July.
However, there are still potential avenues to upgrade the team, as the free agent market still has a number of quality veterans looking to find their next home ahead of the upcoming season.
One of those players is former Miami Dolphins center Connor Williams, who suffered a torn ACL last season, placing his availability for the beginning of the season into question.
Williams, a second-round pick back in the 2018 NFL Draft, had a tumultuous start to his career with the Dallas Cowboys, where he predominantly played at guard.
Upon signing with the Dolphins, Williams moved over to center where he’s seen much better success over the past two seasons, developing into one of the better players at the position.
Now, entering his age-27 season, Williams is a free agent looking for his next opportunity in the NFL as he recovers from the torn ACL injury.
Could the 49ers look into adding Williams ahead of training camp?
Williams’s recovery
When it comes to an injury as serious as a torn ACL, the recovery period is always important for a free agent, which is why it isn’t shocking that Williams hasn’t been signed yet.
Given that he tore his ACL during Week 14 of last season, it was initially expected that the center would miss some time during the year, but that may not be the case according to his agent Drew Rosenhaus.
“Connor has had a remarkable recovery, nothing short of miraculous, really looking good for the start of the season,” Rosenhaus said, via the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson.
“There are a lot of teams interested in him. I’m just delighted for Connor. I did not anticipate hm going to training camp with a team and felt like it might be something during the season before he played. But he’s done an awesome job. We are going to see Connor Williams in someone’s training camp.”
This comes after ESPN’s Adam Schefter shared that Williams is expected to be ready for the regular season and is looking to sign before training camp, with several suitors interested in the center.
According to Rosenhaus, that return won’t be with the Dolphins most likely, as they signed center Aaron Brewer to a three-year deal in free agency. So, could it be with the 49ers?
Williams’s fit
Heading into 2024, Williams would be a sure upgrade at center for the 49ers, and he comes into the fold at only 27 years of age.
Now, given his injury, it’s likely that Williams will sign a one-year deal with his next team, making the risk-reward worry minimal.
The 49ers have an intriguing setup along the offensive line, as veteran Jake Brendel is expected to reprise his role as the team’s starting center.
But, he’s been dealing with knee issues this offseason, leading Jon Feliciano or Ben Bartch to take some of those reps. Feliciano, on the other hand, is also actively engaged in the team’s battle at right guard, with Spencer Burford and rookie Dominick Puni also in the mix there.
So, the 49ers have a pretty depth-heavy room already along the interior at offensive line with versatile options to swing between guard and center.
However, if they were purely looking for an upgrade and willing to spend the requisite cost on a one-year deal, taking a risk on Williams would surely be worth the reward, even with the injury concern.
With Williams in the fold, the 49ers could look to just play their five best options along the offensive line, providing the team with the highest floor at the position as they push for a championship in 2024.
Now, Williams will have a number of suitors and could look for a less cloudy situation with a clearer chance of starting on Day 1, but the 49ers should at least call in and gauge the interest for the free agent center.
