The Case for NFL MVP: Trent Williams

It might seem crazy—it probably is—but Trent Williams has a legitimate case for the NFL MVP. Or at least, the most legitimate case for any offensive lineman ever. No offensive lineman has even come close to winning the MVP, with only Duane Putnam and Larry Little ever receiving a vote. And for good reason, as it requires five offensive lineman to be considered a dominant force. However, the circumstances surrounding Trent William’s case happen to support the argument that he should win the award. 

In every game the San Francisco 49ers lost this season so far, Trent Williams did not play the whole game. In every game the 49ers have won, Trent Williams has played. That alone brings curiosity to his impact but there is even more evidence that backs up his impact. 

In the ten games the 49ers have won with Trent Williams, they have averaged 32.9 points per game. Yet without Trent Williams they have averaged just 17.0. With Trent Williams the 49ers have averaged 4.1 touchdowns a game, yet without him just 2 touchdowns a game. Despite not having scored a single point, Trent Williams may matter the most on the 49ers when it comes to getting points on the board.

The 49er offensive line as a whole completely collapses when Trent Williams is out. It may not seem like a left tackle can anchor the whole offensive unit, but the line’s play completely diminishes with him out. The Eagles made the super bowl last year off the backs of the best offensive line in the league. They clearly proved an offensive line can elevate an offense. If the offensive line is the anchor of the offense, and Trent Williams is the anchor of the offensive line, then it should not be a stretch to say Trent Williams is the anchor of the whole offense. 

Kyle Shanahan has a very particular system, which relies heavily on the run game to open up opportunities for the passing game and Brock Purdy. McCaffrey is obviously the biggest part of that, yet what goes unnoticed is how Trent Williams completely anchors the run game and is the reason why the 49er offense is rolling through opponents. With Trent Williams, the 49ers average an unbelievable 6.67 yards per run on the left side. Without him, they are twice as worse at 3.04. With Trent Williams the offense has a safety valve, being able to go left and get good yardage. This forces defenses to adjust to defend the run game harder, leaving more openings in the passing game. The passing attack is fully unleashed when the run game is going. Trent Williams is not just vital, but the key to get the run game going. 

Obviously the most important stat to William’s impact is the 49ers are 8-0 with him this season, and 0-3 without him. Trent Williams unlocks so much within Shanahan’s offense. With him he unlocks both MVP candidates in Christian McCaffrey and Brock Purdy, suggesting that he also deserves some praise. While his impact doesn’t seem immediately obvious, he should be getting some MVP consideration when discussing the most important players.