UW Left Tackle Carver Willis Heard His Name Called in the Fourth Round

Carver Willis got everything he came to Washington for. The 6-foot-5, 303-pound offensive lineman heard his name called on Day 3 of the 2026 NFL draft Saturday when the San Francisco 49ers selected him with the No. 127 pick in the fourth round. For Willis, it was the culmination of a decision he made clear back in March was the best of his life.

The Washington Advantage

Willis wasn't shy about crediting his time with the Huskies for getting him ready for the next level. Speaking at UW's Pro Day in March, he said learning offensive scheme with NFL verbiage from coach Jedd Fisch had massively helped him during draft interviews. He enjoyed his brief time in Seattle, and it showed when scouts and team executives started talking to him. The offensive scheme preparation from Fisch translated directly into confidence when Willis was sitting down with NFL teams, and that preparation clearly paid off when the 49ers made their move.

First UW OL Since 2022

Willis becomes the fourth Husky drafted in 2026, and he's the first UW offensive lineman off the board since Troy Fautanu and Roger Rosengarten were selected back in 2022. That's a four-year gap between UW offensive linemen getting drafted, which makes Willis's selection on Day 3 a significant moment for the program. The Huskies have produced talent at the position before, and Willis proved he's the next in that pipeline ready to make an impact at the professional level.

Willis is headed to San Francisco with the chance to develop with the 49ers' organization. For a kid who came to Washington and found exactly what he needed, the hard work paid off when his name finally got called.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.