{"id":171053,"date":"2026-03-30T14:03:45","date_gmt":"2026-03-30T14:03:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=171053"},"modified":"2026-03-30T14:03:45","modified_gmt":"2026-03-30T14:03:45","slug":"age-was-supposed-to-slow-him-down-but-instead-its-making-the-san-francisco-49ers-think-even-bigger-a-34-year-old-still-dominating-with-a-70-7-pff-grade-has-insiders-whispering-abou","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=171053","title":{"rendered":"Age was supposed to slow him down\u2026 but instead, it\u2019s making the San Francisco 49ers think even bigger. A 34-year-old still dominating with a 70.7 PFF grade has insiders whispering about a move that could shake the entire roster \u2014 and if it happens, it won\u2019t just be bold\u2026 it\u2019ll be a statement no one saw coming."},"content":{"rendered":"
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The San Francisco 49ers remain firmly in win-now mode heading into the 2026 NFL season, and they are showing no signs of slowing down in their pursuit of another Super Bowl run. After already adding impact veterans like Dre Greenlaw, Mike Evans, and Christian Kirk to bolster key areas, the team could be eyeing yet another savvy veteran addition\u2014this time to strengthen the offensive line.<\/p>\n

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According to David Lombardi of The SF Standard, a prominent 49ers insider, Cleveland Browns free agent\u00a0Joel Bitonio<\/strong>\u00a0emerges as a compelling potential target to upgrade the left guard position, provided the veteran decides against retirement.<\/p>\n

\u201cThose of you unfamiliar with Joel Bitonio, he\u2019s been one of the great guards in the NFL over the course of the past decade, decade-and-a-half,\u201d Lombardi said in a March 29 video on his YouTube channel. \u201cHe has been with the Cleveland Browns for all of that time. His first season in the NFL was 2014\u2026 Kyle Shanahan was the offensive coordinator of the Browns in 2014.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Bitonio, who turns 34 in 2026, has defied expectations with his durability and consistent performance. In the 2025 season, he logged 1,081 offensive snaps and posted a solid\u00a070.7 overall PFF grade<\/strong>, ranking 23rd among 81 qualifying offensive guards. His pass-protection grade of\u00a075.7<\/strong>\u00a0was particularly impressive (8th at the position), while his run-blocking grade came in at 64.4. He allowed just 31 total pressures, including two sacks and one hit, and was penalized only once all year.<\/p>\n

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Even at an age when many linemen begin to decline, Bitonio continues to play high-level football. Lombardi highlighted the appeal of pairing him with the still-dominant left tackle\u00a0Trent Williams<\/strong>, potentially creating a formidable left side of the offensive line for the 49ers\u2019 offense.<\/p>\n

49ers Intensify Talks with Trent Williams<\/h3>\n

The potential interest in Bitonio comes amid ongoing efforts to stabilize the offensive line, particularly around Williams. On March 29, Lombardi reported that 49ers general manager John Lynch indicated contract discussions with the veteran tackle have \u201cintensified\u201d over the past week. Lynch expressed optimism, stating the team feels they are \u201con the precipice of something good.\u201d<\/p>\n

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In 2025, Williams played 996 snaps and earned an elite\u00a091.5 overall PFF grade<\/strong>\u00a0(3rd among all offensive tackles). His run-blocking grade was an outstanding 92.8, though his pass-blocking grade was 79.9. He allowed 32 total pressures, including four sacks and eight hits, while committing four penalties.<\/p>\n

Richard Sherman Offers Blunt Take on the Situation<\/h3>\n

Former 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman recently addressed the delicate contract dynamics surrounding Williams on the March 26 episode of \u201cThe Richard Sherman Podcast.\u201d Sherman suggested the team\u2019s caution stems not from frustration with Williams himself, but from a broader desire to avoid accumulating more dead money.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI think they\u2019ve gotten frustrated, not with Trent Williams, but just with the dead\u2011money situation that they\u2019ve run into year after year,\u201d Sherman said. He pointed to past contracts involving players like Javon Hargrave and Deebo Samuel as examples of situations the front office is now trying to move away from.<\/p>\n

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\"Assessing<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re trying to get away from that. I don\u2019t think they want to throw more dead money into the future. I think they\u2019re trying to take their licks now\u2026 but I obviously don\u2019t see them getting rid of Trent Williams.\u201d<\/p>\n

A Strategic Veteran Fit?<\/h3>\n

If Bitonio opts to return for a 13th NFL season rather than retire, he could represent a cost-effective, experienced upgrade at guard with immediate familiarity in Kyle Shanahan\u2019s scheme\u2014dating back to their time together in Cleveland in 2014. His proven reliability in pass protection would complement Williams\u2019 dominance and help protect the quarterback while opening lanes in the run game.<\/p>\n

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The 49ers\u2019 front office, led by Lynch and Shanahan, has demonstrated a willingness to add proven veterans who can contribute right away. Whether Bitonio becomes the next addition remains to be seen, but Lombardi\u2019s comments have certainly sparked excitement among the fanbase.<\/p>\n

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As the offseason progresses and free agency continues, all eyes will be on San Francisco\u2019s moves along the offensive line. At 34, Joel Bitonio may be proving once again that\u00a0age is just a number<\/strong>\u2014and the 49ers could be ready to bet on a player still defying Father Time.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The San Francisco 49ers remain firmly in win-now mode heading into the 2026 NFL season, and they are showing no signs of slowing down in their pursuit… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":171056,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-171053","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl"],"yoast_head":"\nAge was supposed to slow him down\u2026 but instead, it\u2019s making the San Francisco 49ers think even bigger. 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