When the San Francisco 49ers selected offensive tackle Carver Willis in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, many assumed they were adding depth to the edge of the line. But if you ask Willis himself, that assumption couldn't be further from the truth.

"Any talks about the NFL have never involved tackle," Willis told reporters during the 49ers' rookie minicamp. "Ever. Even with coaches in college, it just hasn't involved left tackle."

Translation? Willis is almost certainly headed inside to guard or center—and he's known it all along. "For me, it wasn't exactly much of a shock," he said. "They said, 'hey we want you to play inside.' I was like, 'great.'"

This isn't just a hunch. The 49ers' offensive line picture is already coming into focus. Right tackle is locked down after the team signed Colton McKivitz to a three-year, $45 million deal in the 2026 offseason. On the left side, future Hall of Famer Trent Williams remains entrenched after his own extension. Barring a training camp miracle or an injury crisis, Willis simply doesn't have a path to a starting tackle job.

But that's exactly where his versatility becomes an asset. Willis is embracing a role that has become increasingly common in the NFL: the college tackle who moves inside to maximize his skill set. The 49ers have seen this work before. Starting right guard Dominick Puni played tackle in college before sliding inside and becoming an immediate starter for San Francisco. Granted, Puni had six years of college experience, but the blueprint is there.

Left guard, however, remains a question mark. The 49ers brought in Brett Toth and Robert Jones on one-year deals worth $2.5 million and $1.75 million, respectively—short-term commitments that suggest the team is still searching for a long-term solution. Second-year lineman Connor Colby returns after an underwhelming rookie campaign, but a Year 2 leap isn't out of the question.

Willis, for his part, isn't limiting his options. He considers himself an offensive lineman, not just a tackle, and has already begun working on snapping the ball to prepare for a potential role at center. Whether he ends up competing for the left guard spot or adds depth at multiple interior positions, one thing is clear: Carver Willis is ready to do whatever it takes to get on the field.