49ers post-NFL Draft depth chart: How many rookies could reasonably start Week 1? (paywall)
“We’re predicting that veterans Elliott and Givens are the Week 1 starters, though it would be of little surprise if Collins or West — or both — are in the starting mix. Body-wise, Collins is reminiscent of 2020 first-round pick Javon Kinlaw but without the knee issue that plagued Kinlaw early in his career. West is like one-time 49er D.J. Jones. Anderson, meanwhile, is part of the group that stuck around the team facility in the offseason. He’s been working out alongside fellow 2024 rookies Puni and Malik Mustapha.”
Why Simms believes 49ers ‘absolutely crushed’ 2025 NFL Draft
“Mykel Williams, big badass MOFO off the edge from Georgia to start,” Simms told Florio. “Alfred Collins, big bad ass MOFO from Texas in the middle of the defense. Nick Martin, our kind of guy that we talk about with the 49ers – linebacker, a little smaller, kamikaze, throws his body around everywhere. CJ West, a great D-tackle from Indiana, who’s really good, undersized, disrupt-the-play kind of guy…..I thought the San Francisco 49ers absolutely crushed the draft,” Simms told Florio on “PFT Live.” “They got back to their roots. This is what they were. This is what [head coach Kyle Shanahan] and [president of football operations and general manager John Lynch] took over. This is how the team was formed. A bunch of badasses on the defensive side of the ball. Let’s accumulate that, let’s kick the crap out of everybody else.”
How Saleh’s influence is reflected in 49ers’ 2025 draft picks
“Right when we hired him, the very first day, he sat down with us and he talked about how he has evolved in his time away from here,” 49ers director of player personnel RJ Gillen said of Saleh.
“He also heard from us how we’ve evolved and how we see players and how he sees players. Then we kind of came together in a consensus in terms of the plan and the types of players and skill sets and fits we want moving forward.”
49ers eyeing special teams role for 2025 NFL Draft pick Bergen
“Bergen (5-foot-9 1/2, 184 pounds) was an All-Big Sky selection at kick returner, punt returner and wide receiver. He is tied for the NCAA FCS record with eight career punt-return touchdowns. He posted a career average of 16.7 yards per punt return.
And with the new NFL kickoff rules, Bergen could have more of a chance to make an impact with the 49ers this season. This year, the offense will start at the 35-yard line after touchbacks on kickoffs.
The NFL estimates that 60 to 70 percent of kickoffs this season will be returned.”
“He showed off a clip of Collins easily handling a triple-team block, underscoring his ability to consistently cause disruption in the trenches.”
