NFL DRAFT
The San Francisco 49ers had a tumultuous 2024 NFL season after losing their second Super Bowl in the last five seasons. They started things off pretty slow in the 2025 offseason as the team lost multiple significant players in free agency or via trade.
Gone are former Pro Bowlers Deebo Samuel, Charvarius Ward and Talanoa Hufanga as well as former starters Dre Greenlaw and Aaron Banks. San Francisco made few notable additions; only four of their nine free agent signings received multi-year deals.
The 49ers can look to the draft for help, though. San Francisco is picking earlier than it has since the 2021 NFL draft and is stocked up with extra picks in the middle and late rounds. An aging roster with needs at multiple positions could get upgrades of young talent to help push for another playoff run.
Many expect the 49ers to address defensive line early on given the team’s identity for years under coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch. Aside from star edge rusher Nick Bosa, San Francisco is thin on the defensive line but luckily this draft offers a lot of depth at defensive line on both the interior and on the edge.
It’s also a popular pick for San Francisco to address the offensive line by mock draft experts. Star left tackle Trent Williams will be 37 this season and right tackle Colton McKivitz is entering the final year of his deal. Guard Dominick Puni looks like a building block after an excellent rookie season but the other spots could use more options.
NFL DRAFT HUB: Live NFL Draft news, live picks, grades, analysis and more.
How are the 49ers addressing their needs during the 2025 NFL Draft? Here are USA TODAY Sports and the USA TODAY Network’s grades for each of San Francisco’s selections.
49ers NFL draft grades
Round 1, Pick 11: Mykel Williams, edge, Georgia
- Ayrton Ostly, USA TODAY Sports: A-
San Francisco needs a lot of help on the defensive line opposite Nick Bosa and Williams fits the bill exceptionally well for this team. His comically long arms and powerful frame is a match for what the 49ers look for in edge rushers. He played hurt in 2024 but showed flashes of dominance as one of the youngest players in the class. He has a high floor as a run defender and can grow as a pass rusher in San Francisco.
- Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, USA TODAY Sports: B
When John Lynch spoke this week about the importance of “setting a firm edge,” he might as well have been discussing Williams. The 6-5, 260-pounder is plenty powerful and stout against the run, making him a sensible fit to occupy the spot opposite Nick Bosa. He still has plenty of developing to do as a pass rusher, but there’s few better places to do that than under defensive coordinator Robert Saleh. San Francisco still has more work to do to firm up its offensive line, but it can return to a deep defensive tackle class on Day 2.
NFL DRAFT: Grades, live breakdown of every pick in first round
Round 2, Pick 43: Alfred Collins, DT, Texas
- Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, USA TODAY Sports: B
- Ayrton Ostly, USA TODAY Sports: A
Round 3, Pick 75: Nick Martin, LB, Oklahoma State
The production and playmaking range – recall that Martin caught up with 40-yard dash record-setter Xavier Worthy to make a tackle – are major pluses. But a missile-like mentality toward finding the ball too often results in misfires for Martin, who also might be engulfed by bigger blockers.
Martin missed time in 2024 with a knee injury and is undersized for the position. He hits hard and plays hard but the 49ers have bigger needs on defense and the offensive line. He likely would’ve been available a round or two later than this.
Round 3, Pick 100: Upton Stout, CB, Western Kentucky
Stout joins linebacker Nick Martin as the next undersized but extremely active playmaker to join San Francisco’s defense. He has been likened to Amik Robertson, but he might be boxed into a role that emphasizes his quickness and shields him from mismatches.
Stout is undersized at 5-foot-9 and 181 pounds but offers speed and a lot of aggression at the cornerback position. He could be a slot cornerback of the future who plays hard against the run and will compete against bigger wide receivers.
Round 4, Pick 113: CJ West, DT, Indiana
San Francisco continues investing on defense with the strong, quick West. The Indiana product has powerful hands to pair with his quickness. At 6-foot-1 and 316 pounds, he out-leverages bigger blockers and plays with a violent streak to win at the point of attack.
Round 4, Pick 138: Jordan Watkins, WR, Ole Miss
Watkins is slightly undersized at 5-foot-11 and 196 pounds but clocked in at 4.37 second in the 40-yard dash. He ran a simple route tree at Ole Miss so he will take time to develop in Kyle Shanahan’s system. Still, he was a remarkably productive receiver; you don’t get 254 yards and five touchdowns in a single game by chance. The 49ers have bigger holes on the roster, though, primarily at offensive line.
49ers NFL draft picks
The 49ers have 11 picks in the 2025 NFL draft, tied for the most in the NFL. Here’s the complete list:
- Round 1, Pick 11: Mykel Williams, edge, Georgia
- Round 2, Pick 43: Alfred Collins, DT, Texas
- Round 3, Pick 75: Nick Martin, LB, Oklahoma State
- Round 3, Pick 100: Upton Stout, CB, Western Kentucky
- Round 4, Pick 113: CJ West, DT, Indiana
- Round 4, Pick 138: Jordan Watkins, WR, Ole Miss
- Round 5, Pick 147 (from Saints via Commanders)
- Round 5, Pick 160 (from Vikings)
- Round 7, Pick 227
- Round 7, Pick 249
- Round 7, Pick 252
