Tag: 49ers mock draft

49ers have clear agenda in latest ESPN 2025 NFL mock draft

In ESPN’s latest 2025 NFL mock draft, the 49ers have a clear agenda of what they want to improve.

In the latest 2025 NFL mock draft for ESPN, the San Francisco 49ers have a clear direction in which they want to head.

ESPN’s Matt Miller shared his latest two-round mock draft following the Senior Bowl and Shrine Bowl all-star events. It has the 49ers looking to the trenches for help.

In Miller’s two-round mock, the 49ers select Ohio State offensive tackle Josh Simmons at No. 11 overall and then North Dakota State offensive lineman Grey Zabel in the second round with pick No. 43.

San Francisco would have to weigh injury concerns with Simmons. The 6-foot-5, 310 pound offensive tackle had a season-ending knee surgery that ended his 2024 college football season.

Despite the injury, Simmons is currently ranked as ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper’s No. 3 offensive tackle in this draft class.

Christian McCaffrey‘s injury issues were the headline for the 49ers’ offensive woes this season, yet their offensive line was a mess and will be a priority fix for general manager John Lynch. The 49ers made a great selection on guard Dominick Puni in the third round of the 2024 draft, but a plug-and-play right tackle who could eventually take over for All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams could be the next step. – Miller, ESPN.

The 49ers bolstering their offensive tackle group with their first selection and perhaps finding Williams’ eventual successor at left tackle has been a common idea among draft analysts.

Doubling down up front hasn’t necessarily been as common, though. Miller came away impressed with what he saw from former NDSU offensive lineman Zabel at the Senior Bowl.

Zabel played left tackle for North Dakota State as he helped guide the Bison to an FCS national championship this past season. The 6-foot-6, 316 pound offensive lineman has played all over though throughout his collegiate career.

Zabel appeared in 62 games with NDSU during his college career and also made starts at left guard, right guard and right tackle.

During the Senior Bowl, Zabel got in a drive at center as well. The center position is where Miller sees Zabel slotting in for the 49ers.

The 49ers could address the offensive line again to try to further fix that problem unit. Zabel has played tackle, guard and center, but I think he fits best inside, where his toughness and awareness could make him a star. He turned heads during Senior Bowl practices. – Miller, ESPN.

Zabel’s positional versatility would certainly be a welcome sight for San Francisco.

Zabel was named the Senior Bowl Overall Practice Player of the Week in a poll by 32 NFL executives for his performances in Mobile, Ala.

Addressing its offensive line to create running lanes for star running back Christian McCaffrey and to help keep quarterback Brock Purdy clean is a draft avenue that most 49ers fans could support.

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49ers land injured OT who may be perfect fit for OL in mock draft

A short-term RT and long-term LT would be a nice 1st-round pick for the 49ers.

It would be a fairly significant surprise if the San Francisco 49ers don’t select either an offensive lineman or defensive lineman with the No. 11 pick in the 2025 draft.

While a defensive lineman may be more likely given their past team-building philosophy, they land a potentially perfect fit on the offensive line in the latest seven-round mock draft from Pro Football Network.

PFN has the 49ers skipping the defensive line in favor of injured Ohio State left tackle Josh Simmons. Simmons, despite suffering a torn patellar tendon in early December, looks to be exactly what San Francisco would be looking for in an offensive tackle.

He’s listed with NFL size at 6-5, 310 pounds, and he has really high-quality movement skills that should allow him to operate in a 49ers offense that requires athleticism from its offensive line.

What makes Simmons perfect for the 49ers in particular is that he has experience at both tackle spots.

At Ohio State he started 13 games on the right side during his sophomore season, before flipping to the left side as a junior where he started 19 games over his final two college seasons before his knee injury. That’s almost the exact route the 49ers would want him to take.

He could slide in at right tackle to provide an upgrade over RT Colton McKivitz, then jump over to the left tackle spot when LT Trent Williams decides to retire. Simmons could also flip over to the left side as a rookie if Williams misses time, which he has in each of his five seasons with San Francisco.

It’s hard to envision the 49ers using the No. 11 pick on a player who’ll eventually play guard in the NFL. That wouldn’t be the case for Simmons who has a real chance to be the best OT in this year’s class.

The other picks for the 49ers from PFN

Round 2, Pick 43: LB Jihaad Campbelll, Alabama
Round 3, Pick 75: DE Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College
Round 3, Pick 99: DT JJ Pegues, Ole Miss
Round 4, Pick 111: G Earnest Greene, Georgia
Round 4, Pick 137: CB Upton Stout, Western Kentucky
Round 4, Pick 138: TE Luke Lachey, Iowa
Round 6, Pick 188: WR Nick Nash, San Jose State
Round 7, Pick 227: OT Jalen Travis, Iowa State
Round 7, Pick 231: K Caden Davis, Ole Miss
Round 7, Pick 254: S Craig Woodson, Cal

It’s unclear why they gave the 49ers an 11th selection. General manager John Lynch said the team is expecting 10. It appears this mock includes an additional seventh-round pick for San Francisco.

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49ers tackle 4 key needs in 3-round mock draft

In Athlon Sports’ latest three-round mock draft, the San Francisco 49ers tackle a series of key needs.

Athlon Sports’ Luke Easterling unveiled his latest three-round 2025 NFL mock draft on Thursday morning.

Easterling’s latest mock sees the San Francisco 49ers address a series of key needs.

While former Texas offensive tackle Kelvin Banks has been a trendy projected first-round selection for the 49ers, Easterling forecasts San Francisco to head in a different direction up front with their first-round pick.

Easterling has San Francisco drafting former Alabama guard Tyler Booker with the No. 11 overall selection.

Here’s Easterling’s full list of 49ers picks in his latest mock draft. Plus, a more detailed look at each below:

49ers’ projected draft picks per Easterling

  • First Round (No. 11 overall): Alabama IOL, Tyler Booker
  • Second Round (No. 43 overall): Ohio State EDGE, Jack Sawyer
  • Third Round (No. 75 overall): Virginia Tech CB, Dorian Strong
  • Third Round (No. 99 overall): Ohio State S, Lathan Ransom

Alabama IOL, Tyler Booker

Booker is quite the specimen on the inside. The 6-foot-5, 325 pound mauler was recognized as a first-team All-American by both CBS Sports and USA TODAY Sports for his efforts during the 2024 season.

Booker earned SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week honors three times last season in games against Missouri, LSU and Auburn. Booker’s football IQ is high and he looks like a high-floor selection with upside to morph into a perennial All-Pro staple on the 49ers’ interior.

The New Haven, Conn., product made 37 appearances and started 27 games at Alabama. Booker earned an 86.5 pass blocking grade with the Crimson Tide last season per Pro Football Focus. Booker arrived in Tuscaloosa, Ala., as a four-star signee in the 2022 class per 247Sports.

Ohio State EDGE, Jack Sawyer

Ohio State defensive end Jack Sawyer made one of the biggest plays of the college football season when he stripped the football away from Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers and then scooped it up and raced down the sideline for a game-sealing, 83-yard defensive score in the College Football Playoff semifinals.

Sawyer finished his final season in Columbus with 59 tackles, nine tackles for loss, nine sacks, eight quarterback hurries, six pass breakups, three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and one interception. The 6-foot-5, 260 pound defensive end tallied 138 tackles, 25.5 tackles for loss and 20 sacks during his Buckeye career.

Sawyer was Ohio State’s highest-graded defensive player per PFF with an overall defensive grade of 90.5. PFF credited Sawyer with an astounding 64 total pressures last season.

Virginia Tech CB, Dorian Strong

Virginia Tech cornerback Dorian Strong would bring a wealth of playing experience to San Francisco. Strong appeared in 53 games and started 44 over his five years with the Hokies, including 25 starts over the past two seasons.

Strong would also bring a large frame to San Francisco’s secondary. Listed at 6-foot-1, 185 pounds, that height should help covering larger NFL wide receivers on the outside.

Strong totaled 32 tackles, six passes defensed and intercepted a pair of passes last season. The Upper Marlboro, Md., native allowed just 27 receptions on 58 targets during the 2024 season and earned a 73.9 defensive grade from PFF.

Strong earned third-team All-ACC honors in 2023.

Ohio State S, Lathan Ransom

The 49ers use their third-round compensatory pick to go back to that Ohio State well. Ransom garnered an 82.1 defensive grade and a 93.5 run defense grade from PFF last season with the Buckeyes.

Ransom checks in as a 6-foot-1, 210 pound safety. The Tucson, Ariz., product registered 75 tackles, nine tackles for loss, two pass breakups, one interception and one sack last year with the Buckeyes.

The takeaways

San Francisco gets offensive line help that it needs with the top selection of Alabama’s Booker. Booker’s presence should help keep 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy clean as he only surrendered one sack in his three years with the Crimson Tide.

Then, San Francisco turns to the defensive side of the football with its next three selections. The 49ers add Sawyer to help star edge rusher Nick Bosa pressure opposing quarterbacks.

Lastly, the 49ers find potential replacements on the back end for cornerback Charvarius Ward and safety Talanoa Hufanga if the franchise can’t bring back one or both.

49ers get steal of the draft in 2-round NFL mock

The 49ers would LOVE if the NFL draft shook out this way.

The San Francisco 49ers have a path in this year’s draft to resetting their offensive and defensive lines for long-term success.

In 2024 they struggled in the trenches on both sides of the ball, highlighting their need to revamp both of those units. Free agency should be a factor for the short-term. Long-term fixes should come via the NFL draft, and a new mock draft from our friends at the Draft Wire outlines a way San Francisco can land two quality linemen in the first two rounds.

In Round 1, the 49ers select LSU offensive tackle Will Campbell, who might be the best OT in the class. A glut of talent at other positions allows Campbell to slide all the way to them at the No. 11 overall pick.

Campbell has the requisite size to play OT in the NFL. LSU lists him at 6-6, 323 pounds. He started all 38 games he played across three seasons with the Tigers and was a consensus All-American in the 2024 season. All 38 of his starts came at left tackle, which may be a requirement if the 49ers are going to use their first-round pick on a tackle. Although Campbell is good enough that he’d be an easy pick regardless of which side of the line he played on.

The ideal scenario is one where Campbell plays on the right side and provides an upgrade over RT Colton McKivitz, then flips over to his natural left side once Trent Williams retires.

This would be a home-run selection for San Francisco.

In the second round they jump to the other side of the ball where they scoop up Ole Miss defensive tackle Walter Nolen.

Nolen only played three years of college and improved every season, culminating in a breakout 2024 campaign with the Rebels where he was outstanding against the run while racking up 35 tackles and six sacks per Pro Football Focus.

He’s listed at 6-3, 305 pounds and he looks to have the athleticism to play multiple spots on the defensive line. It’s a bit of a risk for San Francisco since Nolen was a little inconsistent as a pass rusher during his first two years with Texas A&M, but he was always effective against the run. PFF had him down for only five missed tackles in 35 career games.

There’s a ton of upside for a player with Nolen’s size and skill set, and landing him in the middle of the second round would be an excellent way for the 49ers to round out their first couple of picks.

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49ers may go outside the box in Daniel Jeremiah mock draft

Daniel Jeremiah’s first mock has the 49ers snagging an offensive tackle who may move to guard.

It’s well within the realm of possibilities that the San Francisco 49ers would use the No. 11 overall pick in this year’s draft on an offensive lineman.

That’s the exact route they took in a mock draft from NFL Media’s draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah. His selection for San Francisco is a little bit outside the box given his analysis of the pick.

With the 11th pick, Jeremiah sends Missouri offensive tackle Armand Membou to San Francisco.

Membou started 30 of the 35 games he played across three seasons for the Tigers. 29 of those starts came at right tackle with the other coming on the left side. Jeremiah doesn’t think the 20-year-old will necessarily stay at tackle in the NFL.

Via NFL.com:

Membou is the most technically sound offensive lineman in this class. He reminds me of Aljah Vera-Tucker when he entered the league. Membou will be an exceptional guard who can also play tackle if needed.

It would be a pretty steep departure from the 49ers’ team-building philosophy if they took a player they think will play guard in the first round.

In 2021 they selected left guard Aaron Banks in the second round, and he didn’t even start until his second season. Then in last year’s draft they took right guard Dominick Puni who stepped in as a starter on Day 1 and had a terrific rookie campaign.

A first-round pick on a guard, especially one as high as No. 11, wouldn’t make a ton of sense for San Francisco. Membou may be very technically sound, but he never played guard in college, and he’d likely have to swap sides of the line to play left guard after playing right tackle for his last 29 college games.

Of course, if the team believes he’s their long-term answer at right tackle, the selection makes more sense. It could provide an upgrade at RT over Colton McKivitz who did make strides last season. It would also be a cheap RT option which may open the door to spending on a left tackle if they need to in the post Trent Williams era.

Given what we know about the 49ers’ team-building philosophy in the past, a defensive lineman would probably be the top option for them at this spot. However, if the front office and coaching staff think Membou is a long-term starter at one of the tackle spots, they likely wouldn’t hesitate to snag him and improve their offensive line. If they don’t project him as an offensive tackle in the NFL, they’re not likely to go that route on Draft Day.

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49ers a perfect landing spot for one of NFL draft’s youngest players

On the way to earning All-SEC first team honors, the Texas A&M pass rusher recorded five sacks during his only season in College Station.

As the draft season begins to heat up, a new rookie edge rusher prospect opposite of Nick Bosa has been a fairly popular choice in multiple mock drafts with the No. 11 overall selection in the 2025 NFL draft,

Offensive line and defensive line have been popular candidates for the 49ers in mock drafts early in the offseason. In the latest mock draft from Pro Football Network, another standout pass-rushing prospect landed with the 49ers at No. 11.

At No. 11, Pro Football Network penned Texas A&M edge rusher Nic Scourton to the 49ers. According to Dalton Miller of PFN, Scourton’s plan as a pass rusher is “artwork.”

Via PFN:

Nic Scourton isn’t perfect, but nobody else in this class possesses his blend of technical prowess, bend, size, and power. He’s playing too heavy right now, but losing the unnecessary weight he’s currently carrying on his frame should only make him more dangerous as an arc rusher.

Scourton’s pass-rush plan is artwork, and the suddenness and fluidity he already plays with at 280 is terrifying. He’ll be one of the youngest players in the class while already possessing nuance far beyond his years.

Scourton’s naturally thick lower half makes him a sturdy edge setter, and there’s a chance he’ll continue growing into his frame while building a more consistent power element to his game.

Read the full PFN 7-round mock draft here.

Following two seasons at Purdue, including a career-best 10-sack season in 2023 for the Boilermakers, Scourton transferred to College Station in 2024. Scourton thrived in the SEC, recording five sacks to go along with 37 tackles and 14 tackles for loss in 12 games for the Aggies. Scourton earned All-SEC first-team honors before declaring for the 2025 NFL draft.

Scourton will just be turning 21 years old before the 2025 NFL season begins, giving the 49ers a young player with immense potential to develop across from Bosa in San Francisco’s pass rush.

The first round of the 2025 NFL draft will begin on Thursday, April 24 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

This post originally appeared on Niners Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

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49ers gamble on undersized OL in Mel Kiper mock draft

Could the 49ers find their left tackle heir apparent in the 2025 NFL draft?

In his initial 2025 first-round NFL mock draft, esteemed ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. projects San Francisco to address the offensive side of the football.

Kiper’s initial projection sees the 49ers scooping up talented Texas Longhorns offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. with the No. 11 pick.

Banks just completed his junior season with Texas where he was recognized with both the Lombardi Award and Outland Trophy. A native of Humble, Texas, Banks is projected as Kiper’s second offensive lineman to come off the board.

Kiper’s lone hangup with Banks is how he might measure at the combine.

Banks has a ton of experience, having started 42 games over his college career — and he allowed only three sacks over that time. I’m curious to see his combine measurements — height might be a question mark if he’s 6-3 or shorter — but he has the movement traits and strength to seal off the edge in pass protection.

The 49ers still have Trent Williams locking down the left side for two more seasons, but he will be 37 at the start of next season. It’s time to start planning for the future. Plus, Banks could help on the right side for now, where the Niners have missed Mike McGlinchey (signed with Denver two years ago). – Kiper, ESPN.

Banks arrived in Austin with lofty expectations. Out of Summer Creek High School, Banks was a five-star signee and was ranked as the No. 6 player nationally according to On3 in the 2022 signing class.

Banks met and exceeded those forecasts, becoming the trustiest of security blankets for Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers’ blind side.

As the 49ers look toward their future, drafting Banks could mean that San Francisco found its heir apparent to longtime superstar left tackle Trent Williams.

Williams is under contract for the next two seasons and the indication is that the All-Pro intends to play.

Still, the 49ers need to start making plans for life after Williams. Plus, Williams is coming off a 2024 season where he played in just 10 games as an ankle injury lingered over the back half of the year.

Drafting Banks would allow the 49ers to play him at right tackle alongside Williams. If Banks looks like a potential All-Pro during his first two seasons in the league, that might give the franchise the confidence to shift him over to left tackle as Williams’ eventual successor.

Or, Banks just locks in at right tackle long-term.

San Francisco really can’t go wrong upgrading its offensive or defensive lines and Banks looks like he has the makings of a franchise left tackle down the road.

Per Pro Football Focus, Banks allowed just 10 pressures this past season and he finished with an 86.0 offensive grade, which was tops among Texas’ offensive starters.

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49ers should trade up in NFL draft if this superstar DE slides

The star pass rusher tallied 12 sacks for the Nittany Lions on the way to being named a unanimous first-team All-American.

When the NFL draft rolls around in April, John Lynch, Kyle Shanahan and the San Francisco 49ers will have decisions to make. Currently sitting at No. 11 in the draft order, the 49ers will likely have options when they hit the clock.

Quarterbacks like Miami’s Cam Ward and Colorado’s Shaduer Sanders coming off the board in the top 10 could push talented blue-chip prospects down the board into San Francisco’s range. The 49ers could also pursue a prospect that falls in the draft with a trade-up situation.

In the latest mock draft from Curt Popejoy of USA TODAY’s SMG Draft Wire, Penn State star pass rusher Abdul Carter was selected at No. 7 by the New York Jets, just four picks away from the 49ers. Carter’s prowess on the edge fits the bill for the type of player worthy of trading up for if available.

The unanimous All-American helped fuel Penn State’s run to the college football playoff with a career-best 12 sacks to go along with two forced fumbles, 43 solo tackle and four pass deflections in 16 games. In Penn State’s loss to Notre Dame in the college football semifinals, the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year recorded five tackles, two for a loss and a sack against the Irish.

Via @TheMarcJohnNFL on Twitter:

While the 49ers have tried to find the right player to rush the passer across from Nick Bosa, they’ve come up short. Additions like Leonard Floyd, Drake Jackson and Yetur Gross-Matos have shown flashes at time, but there’s been a lack of consistency when it comes to a No. 2 pass rush option alongside Bosa. A trade-up for Carter could potentially answer the 49ers’ question mark at pass rush.

The 49ers could try to package the No. 11 pick, No. 43 (second round) and potentially one of their third-round compensatory picks to move up a handful of spots to land one of the draft’s top prospects in Carter if he slips out of the top five.

Popejoy later penned fellow edge rusher Mykel Williams out of Georgia to the 49ers at pick No. 11.

Read the full mock draft from USA TODAY’s SMG Draft Wire here.

This post originally appeared on Niners Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

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49ers use 1st-round pick on injured OT in 2025 mock draft

The 6-foot-5 offensive tackle suffered a knee injury during the Ohio State Buckeyes’ loss to the Oregon Ducks in October.

Following the divisional round of the postseason, the college football national championship game is slated for Monday night between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The national championship will have some of the top prospects in the upcoming NFL draft on display.

Before the national title game on Monday, Jeff Risdon of USA TODAY’s NFL Draft Wire released an updated mock draft with a prediction for the San Francisco 49ers’ selection in the first round.

After Texas star offensive tackle Kelvin Banks went off the board at No. 10 to the Chicago Bears, Draft Wire’s Jeff Risdon inked another offensive tackle to the 49ers at No. 11. Risdon listed Ohio State offensive tackle Josh Simmons. According to Risdon, the 22-year-old tackle might have the “highest ceilings” out of the offensive tackles in the 2025 draft class.

Via Draft Wire:

Simmons is currently injured, which simultaneously hinders his draft appeal but also makes him fit in with the 49ers, who have major injury and depth issues along both lines. He might have the highest ceiling of any offensive tackle in this class.

Read the full mock draft via USA TODAY’s SMG Draft Wire here.

After transferring from San Diego State, Simmons started 19 games for the Buckeyes over two seasons. Simmons suffered a season-ending knee injury during the Buckeys’ loss to the Oregon Ducks in October. Prior to his injury, Simmons didn’t allow a sack through six games at left tackle.

Via @PFF_College on Twitter:

The first round of the NFL draft is set for April 24 in Green Bay. The 49ers are slated for the No. 11 overall pick in the first round of the 2024 draft.

This post originally appeared on Niners Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

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2025 mock draft: 49ers hammer trenches in 2-round projection

Offensive line. Defensive line. Rinse. Repeat.

The San Francisco 49ers’ list of needs in the 2025 NFL draft may not change much even after free agency shakes out.

They badly need to revamp their offensive and defensive lines. The order in which they do those and how they prioritize them will depend on how the draft board shakes out, but a draft where they spend every pick bolstering the trenches shouldn’t be out of the question.

San Francisco goes after a player on each line in a new two-round mock draft from the Athletic’s Dane Brugler.

Brugler has the 49ers addressing the offensive line first with Missouri’s Armand Membou. Here’s what Brugler wrote about the versatile OL:

Based on the players expected to be available in this range, there is a decent chance the 49ers use this pick to address the trenches, either on the offensive or defensive line. Membou is incredibly underrated, but he plays with exceptional control, athleticism and finish. He would give San Francisco an ascending player with guard-tackle versatility.

A lineman with inside/outside versatility fits what San Francisco has been looking for with their OL selections for the last couple of years. Membou is listed at 6-3, 325 pounds which probably lands him as a guard in the NFL. However, he did play both tackle spots in college and primarily spent time at right tackle where he was the starter for the Tigers in 2023 and 2024. It’s not out of the question he transitions there as a pro, but it would appear he’s more likely to take over at left guard where 49ers starter Aaron Banks is set to hit free agency.

Using the No. 11 pick on a guard doesn’t necessarily fit the 49ers’ team-building strategy during the Kyle Shanahan-John Lynch era, but given the necessity to revamp the OL it may mean a shift away from their previous strategies if they think Membou can step in and be a Pro Bowl caliber starter.

The 49ers get to the other side of the ball in Round 2 of Brugler’s mock. They select Ole Miss defensive tackle Walter Nolen at No. 43 overall.

Nolen is a player who has been mocked to the 49ers before in a one-round mock. The 43rd pick seems like a much better spot to take a shot on Nolen, who had only one year of big-time college production.

His first two college seasons were with Texas A&M, and he did have a strong second season with the Aggies in 2023. That year he posted seven sacks on 16 pressures while working as a productive run defender according to Pro Football Focus.

He broke out in 2024 with 34 pressures and six sacks. His elite run defense grade from PFF was buoyed by his 31 run stops.

There are definitely some questions around Nolen after only one year of high-end production, but the upside is extremely high. The opportunity to find a three-down defensive tackle who can affect the pocket as a pass rusher would be tough for San Francisco to pass up with its second pick in a draft where they need to find DL help.

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