George Kittle on why the 49ers front offense should prioritize OL & DL help in the draft
49ers TE George Kittle says San Fran should target offensive and defensive lineman in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Sports Seriously
The San Francisco 49ers made the Super Bowl for the second time in five years in 2023. For the second time, they fell short against the Kansas City Chiefs.
They followed that campaign with one of the tougher seasons of coach Kyle Shanahan’s tenure. Injuries kept stars Brandon Aiyuk and Christian McCaffrey from contributing much at all during the season. Off-field concerns, including first-round pick Ricky Pearsall being shot in the chest before the season and cornerback Charvarius Ward’s family tragedy, added to the malaise.
That led to a 6-11 campaign, the 49ers’ worst since 2020 when San Francisco had an injury-riddled season after a run to the Super Bowl.
That led to lots of changes already this offseason. Franchise fixtures Deebo Samuel Sr. and Dre Greenlaw are out of the building, as are former starters Aaron Banks, Talanoa Hufanga and Ward. After a down year for the defense, San Francisco brought back former defensive coordinator Robert Saleh for that role in 2025.
Changes don’t have to stop there, though. San Francisco is armed with lots of picks in the 2025 NFL draft, including four in the top 100 selections, and could make more long-term investments for the future.
Here’s everything to know about the 49ers’ draft outlook ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft:
49ers 2025 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 11Round 2, Pick 43Round 3, Pick 75Round 3, Pick 100Round 4, Pick 113Round 4, Pick 138Round 5, Pick 147 (from Saints via Commanders)Round 5, Pick 160 (from Vikings)Round 7, Pick 227Round 7, Pick 249Round 7, Pick 252
49ers 2025 NFL draft needs
Defensive line
What was once the calling card of the 49ers’ defense has become a weak point on the roster. Edge rusher Nick Bosa is a star but there’s little help around him. Luckily, this is a deep draft on the defensive line, both at interior and on the edge. San Francisco should be able to find multiple players with upside to develop in the trenches.
Offensive tackle
Trent Williams will be 37 this season and Colton McKivitz is a free agent in 2026. Swing tackle Jaylon Moore took a big deal to sign with the Chiefs. San Francisco needs to find a long-term solution for at least one of those spots sooner than later. It’s not a great tackle class but there could be value picks worth sitting and developing for a year in the middle rounds.
Cornerback
The team lost Ward, the former second-team All-Pro cornerback, in free agency. They signed multiple cornerbacks in free agency but none are preventing investment at that spot in the secondary. Deommodore Lenoir got an extension and Renardo Green played well as a rookie in 2024, making it less pressing, but if the 49ers want to contend in the postseason again they’ll need more help on the back end.
49ers 2025 NFL mock draft
Here’s what the 49ers could do in this year’s draft:
Round 1, Pick 11: Edge Mykel Williams, GeorgiaSan Francisco misses out on the top tackle prospects and settles for a long, powerful edge rusher in the mold they’ve historically liked. Williams played hurt in 2024 and showed flashes of potential. With the 49ers’ infrastructure, he could reach that in time.Round 2, Pick 43: DT Darius Alexander, ToledoThe Toledo product made the most of the Senior Bowl and combine to show off his impressive mix of length, athleticism and burst. The 49ers’ defense suffered without a force on the interior last season and Alexander should be a building block for the future.Round 3, Pick 75: TE Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling GreenRound 3, Pick 100: OT Ozzy Trapillo, Boston CollegeRound 4, Pick 113: CB Zah Frazier, UT-San AntonioRound 4, Pick 138: CB Zy Alexander, LSURound 5, Pick 147: DT C.J. West, IndianaRound 5, Pick 160: IOL Caleb Rogers, Texas TechRound 7, Pick 227: RB Montrell Johnson Jr., FloridaRound 7, Pick 249: LB Shemar James, FloridaRound 7, Pick 252: K Andres Borregales, Miami
2025 NFL Draft: Every team’s picks
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source link
