Pro Bowl fan voting ended this week, and at least one 49ers standout was unfortunately on the outside looking in.
Star tackle Trent Williams has been one of the top-rated tackles in the NFL this season by just about any measure -- except in fan balloting for the annual postseason all-star contest.
Not surprisingly, Williams' 49ers teammates took note of the apparent lack of respect, and perhaps fittingly, it was outspoken star tight end George Kittle who seemed most upset by it.
Speaking with reporters after Thursday practice, Kittle had to question the sanity of those who apparently showed little love to Williams, who despite the seeming disrespect in this year's balloting has eight prior Pro Bowl nods on his resume.
“The fact that Trent Williams is eighth in Pro Bowl voting is absolutely insane,” Kittle said.
“He’s probably the most talented player in football. ... The lack of respect that Trent Williams gets is outrageous. I know he gets highlights posted once in a while, but you watch the film, every single game, every single clip, he physically dominates the person across from him.”
Performance can be difficult to quantify for offensive linemen, but Williams has long been considered an elite player based on both his tape and the advanced metrics.
So far this season, the analytics site Pro Football Focus has tagged Williams with a perfect 99 rating -- not just at his position at offensive tackle, but among all players in the league.
The 33-year-old former No. 4 overall draft pick had allowed just one sack and was flagged for holding only three times in 750-plus offensive snaps through Week 14, according to Dalton Johnson of NBC Sports.
Of course, the Pro Bowl is decided by a fan vote, which might not make it the most accurate reflection of performance. But for Kittle, Williams deserves recognition beyond awards and all-star teams.
"Trent Williams, the lack of respect Trent Williams gets I think is outrageous," Kittle said. "I know that he gets highlights posted every once in a while, but you just watch every single game, every single clip, he just physically dominates every single person that's across from him.
"And the fact that he's not talked about more, I think it's outrageous. He's a hell of a football player that needs way more recognition."
Though fans may not recognize Williams' excellence, the 49ers certainly seem to see it. After acquiring Williams in April 2020 from the Washington Football Team in exchange for a third- and fifth-round draft pick, the Niners locked him up long-term in March 2021 with a six-year, $138 million extension.
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