2025 Draft: Tight Ends
a “need” more than a NEED
Part V of our draft preview series looks at tight ends–the somewhat luxury item that could open up a new dimension to our offense. Per usual, any number before a player dictates their “consensus big board” ranking. Asterisks (*) by names mark some of my favorite prospect/scheme fits.
If this wasn’t one of the better tight end classes in recent memory, I likely wouldn’t have given them their own draft write-up. We’ve got two on roster who we’re clearly committed to, plus a fullback who does half of our tight end duties. But this is a deep class, particularly when it comes to matchup weapons in the passing game, and given our affinity for the position, Kittle and Juice’s ages, and the fact that you should usually tap the deepest position groups of any class, here we are.
I do think the Niners have been trying to implement more 12 personnel for quite a few years now. So while the addition of Farrell and the re-signing of Juice will make the snap counts complicated, I don’t think it will preclude us from picking a tight end who we have aspirations of playing sooner rather than later.
THE SKILLSET
We’re really only interested in two-way players–guys who can catch and block. They don’t necessarily have to be in-line players, but if they’re not, they have to be able to handle fullback duties because we don’t have a “tight end who mostly just plays in the slot” position in our offense. That means the versatility to play some snaps in the backfield and at wingback and pulling off complicated edge blocking assignments on the move. Those assignments aren’t easy, but they do allow a place for prospects who are more positional blockers than road graders in the run game.
In the passing game, we want guys who have the athleticism to get open and the wiggle/power in the open space to get YAC yards. Even though neither of these guys panned out, Jalen Hurd and Cam Latu were both of that mold. Given the huge amount of man coverage we saw last year, I’d assume anyone we pick in the first half of the draft would be expected to be able to beat press man—but that’s always a complicated eval (and a rare trait) for a young tight end.
THE NEED
For next season? Debatable. But Kittle and Juice are both over 30, and the latter was temporarily cut this off-season. This gives us the flexibility to draft someone who’s a bit more of a project later in the draft and let them season for a bit.
FIRST ROUND
5. Tyler Warren, Penn State
10. Colston Loveland, Michigan
SECOND ROUND
39. Mason Taylor, LSU
6-5, 251 lbs.
Ascending athlete who can be a three-level threat with further development
For quite a while, there’s been debate over who would claim the TE3 spot in this loaded class. After an impressive pre-draft run that included a 4.65 forty, Taylor–the son of Hall of Fame defensive end Jason Taylor–has likely secured that position. A smooth mover with excellent hands, the ability to make leaping grabs down the field, natural YAC skills, and a knack for finding openings in zone coverage, Taylor is an ascending talent who is still working on the finer points of his game. He needs to add strength, work on his blocking, and show the burst and tempo change in his route running proficiency to beat man coverage with regularity. There’s no reason he won’t get there (although he probably will never be a mauler in the run game), but there’s still projection involved.
45. TE, Elijah Arroyo, Miami
6-5, 250 lbs.
Big and athletic vertical threat with potentially creaky knees
An excellent athlete and savvy route-runner with a massive wingspan, Arroyo lines up and plays the game more like a jumbo wideout than a tight end–averaging nearly 17ypc and totaling 7 touchdowns as a senior. The majority of his receiver impact is while he’s split out into the slot, where he uses his great size and receiver-like ability down the field to threaten seams and create mismatches. In the run game, he’s not going to be crushing dudes on downblocks, but he seems like a willing blocker who can eventually be effective on the combo edge blocks our wide zone game requires. But the biggest question in Arroyo’s eval is his medicals. He’s only had one year of big production, mainly because his 2022 and 2023 seasons were cut short by season-ending knee injuries. Considering a bruise to his knee has prevented him from testing for scouts this off-season, his knee health is certain to be at the forefront of any scouting report.
THIRD ROUND
85. Terrance Ferguson, Oregon
6-5, 247 lbs.
Physical, two-way tight end with decent ceiling and surprising open-field ability
Despite starting 37 games over four years, Ferguson never became a focal part of the Oregon offense, doing a lot of his damage on leakouts, screens, and bootlegs. But he’s a good athlete and a natural pass catcher with strong open field running skills who is physical both as a blocker and as a runner. An efficient athlete, Ferguson doesn’t have great burst or tempo as a route runner and is smoother than he is sudden, but he doesn’t waste a lot of movement. He’s kind of a one-speed runner, and while that speed is pretty solid, the total athletic package brings about questions of whether he can get himself open versus man. Overall, he’s a well-rounded tight end who looks like an eventual NFL starter. His upside isn’t as high as some of his peers but his ability to actually block in-line certainly raises his floor.
*93. Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling Green
6-3, 241 lbs.
Versatile but funky athlete who put up ridonkulous college numbers
A truly unique (and polarizing) prospect, Fannin put up genuinely psychotic numbers in 2024, totalling 117 grabs, 1,555 yards, and 10 TDs—numbers that are all the more impressive considering he’s still quite raw as a route runner and is only 20 years old. Best described as awkwardly athletic, Fannin shows good burst and linear explosiveness but has an odd, almost duck-like gait that results in some stiffness in his lower body. This may cut down on his route tree a bit, but it hasn’t hindered his ability to get open, win at the catch point (he has great hands), and generate more yards than he should after the catch. As a guy who seems a little too small for full-time in-line work, you really wish he’d run faster during testing (4.71 forty), but his speed certainly wasn’t an issue while popping off against Penn State (11 receptions, 137 yards, TD) and Texas A&M (8 receptions, 145 yards, TD). I don’t know if he’ll ever be a true in-line tight end, but he lined up all over the place at Bowling Green, and—as a Juice successor and move tight end—the intrigue is undeniable.
DAY 3
IN-LINE AMBITIONS: Genuine two-way threats who can block from an in-line position. Given it’s day 3, these guys will typically have ceilings closer to TE2.
The Longhorns’ super-consistent safety blanket on an offense full of speedsters, Gunnar Helm (Texas) is not a sudden or fast (4.84 forty) athlete, but he’s efficient in his movements, a good route runner and blocker, and understands how to get open, get the ball, and get way more YAC than he should given his limited athleticism. Helm draws Jake Ferguson/Dalton Schultz comps because of how he exceeds his athleticism, but those speed and burst concerns—especially at his size (6-5, 241 lbs.)—are worrisome. 40-yard dashes are typically pretty telling in TE success rates, and Pat Freiermuth is the only starting tight end in the league who ran a slower one. But as a TE2? Helm seems destined for a lengthy career. (3rd-4th)
In a world of smaller tight ends, Moliki Matavao (UCLA) uses his size and bulk (6-6, 260 lbs.) to win big at the catch point and move bodies in the run game. While he’s got good short-area athleticism and natural hands, his lack of speed caps his ceiling as a receiver, so he’ll need to clean up his technique in the running game to carve out a role as a mauler with underneath/redzone ability. (5th)
Far from the sexiest of prospects, CJ Dippre (Alabama) is solid as a blocker and solid as a receiver but thoroughly unspectacular at either. His special teams experience gives him immediate value, and his testing points to some upside on the receiving end (even if he tested more athletic than he probably actually is), but Dippre feels more like a safe TE2 play than anything else. (5th-6th)
One of the Cardinal’s top receiving threats before transferring to Athens and filling more of a run-blocking specialist role, *Benjamin Yurosek (Georgia) seems primed for sleeper value as the rare late-round guy who has proven he can do both duties well still sporting an impressive athletic profile (4.64 forty, 1.58 10-yard split). I’ve seen him rated as high as the fourth and as low as undrafted, but if he’s more towards the latter, he could be a great value add. (6th)
JUICY HYBRIDS: More move tight ends or h-backs, these guys often lack the size and heft of in-line tight ends but could become mismatch weapons as Juice successors.
Tall and long with good athleticism, Oronde Gadsden II (Syracuse) is a converted WR who looks and plays like one. He needs to continue adding bulk and polish to his routes—which are a bit too backyard football freelance-y at the moment—but the receiving ability and athletic skills are there for a move tight end/h-back in our scheme. (4th)
A tall and lean mismatch threat (6-6, 241 lbs.) who is more big wideout than tight end, Jake Briningstool (Clemson) is a major seam stretcher and redzone threat but lacks the heft and physicality for full-time in-line work. He’s really not the ideal build for true fullback work, but—if he can get there as a blocker—it’ll be as a move tight end, in the wing, and out of the slot. (5th)
A former basketball player who plays like it with his length and box-out ability at the catch point, *Jalin Conyers (Texas Tech) is an intriguing athlete with good burst, great fluidity (6.94 three-cone), and enough YAC ability that he played some wildcat while at ASU. He’s used to lining up in-line, out into the slot, or in the wing, making him quite the intriguing offensive weapon, but little about his game is fine-tuned and game ready for legitimate snaps. But with effort and attention to detail, the long-term developmental upside is quite intriguing. (6th)
A productive hybrid weapon with impressive athleticism, route running, and the versatility to create mismatches all over the field, Brant Kuithe (Utah) lacks in-line size (6-2, 236 lbs.) but has the receiving chops, YAC ability, and good-enough blocking to be a worthy Juice successor… if he can stay healthy. A 25-year-old seventh-year senior, Kuithe tore his ACL back in 2022, missed the entirety of 2023 after undergoing multiple surgeries, then—after 9 games this year—suffered yet another season-ending leg injury. The potential is tremendous. So are the medical hurdles. (UDFA)
BLIND GUESS
The value versus need debate will be fascinating here. The Niners love (perhaps too much) picking offensive skill guys in the first two days of the draft, and this tight end class is ripe with high-upside, NFL-ready prospects. But while adding the next Kittle or Juice to jumpstart our 12 personnel aspirations is intriguing, we have three desperate needs (DT, DE, LB) that we feel highly likely to address in the first two days. So, unless we add more picks via trade, adding a tight end who can contribute immediately might require our last open “slot” in the first two days.
The argument against taking a tight end early is easy. You typically want to spend your premium picks on premium positions. The Eagles are a perfect example. Despite their loaded roster, they’re actually quite bad at late-round picks. Of the 26 day 3 picks since Roseman regained GM duties back in 2019, the Eagles’ biggest contributor is probably… Kenneth Gainwell (5th, 2021)? Quez Watkins (6th, 2020)? That’s shockingly bad. But the roster is still loaded because Roseman is borderline religious about spending his highest valued picks on the league’s highest valued positions. Since 2019, the Eagles have had 19 picks in the first three rounds, and they’ve spent 16 of them on one of the league’s most costly positions (QB, OL, DL, CB, WR). And that doesn’t include the first-round pick they shipped out for AJ Brown. They’ve had a great hit rate on those picks of late (and a lot of them), and have supplemented holes with low-cost free agents, but their commitment to positional value in the early rounds is a smart and conservative way to stockpile value and raise the floor of their drafts.
The argument in favor of drafting a tight end early is a bit more academic. How much better and (importantly) unique can Shanahan make our offense with another legitimate high-snaps receiving threat at tight end? How much can double-tight formations boost our running game and help our wobbly tackle depth while avoiding reaching on a tackle in an overall underwhelming class? And, of course, how truly unique and high-level are the tight ends in our crosshairs? Positional value be damned, everyone is taking an elite tight end over an average tackle. But if you’re betting against positional value—and, in our case, a more pressing need—you’d better be sure in your evaluation.
This feels like a position we’re heavily intrigued by, but not desperate for. So if we don’t add a guy in the first three rounds who we plan to play early—likely as a move tight end similar to Jordan Reed back in the day—we could easily bypass the position or wait until the last few rounds to add depth.
Go Niners 🏈👍
2025 Draft: Linebackers
run (quickly) and hit
Part IV of our draft preview series looks at linebacker, a position of outsized importance in our defense but one that we have an excellent track record of drafting and developing. Per usual, any number before a player dictates their “consensus big board” ranking. Asterisks (*) by names mark some of my favorite prospect/scheme fits.
The departure of Dre Greenlaw looms large, but when it comes to drafting and developing, if there’s a position where the Niners should get the benefit of the doubt, it’s probably linebacker. With Fred Warner (3rd), Greenlaw (5th), Dee Winters (6th), and Azeez Al-Shaiir (UDFA), the Niners have consistently unearthed strong players in the middle-to-late rounds. We have a very specific skillset that we want at the position and Johnny Holland is one of the best in the business at shaping our rookies into heat-seeking missiles on the field.
THE SKILLSET
Warner, Greenlaw, Winters, and Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles were all converted safeties who moved down to linebacker at some point during (or after) college. Marcell Harris, who the Niners drafted as a safety but ended up deploying mostly as a matchup-specific nickel linebacker, functionally goes in that bucket as well. A background in the secondary isn’t a prerequisite for Niners linebackers, but it does show how important speed and coverage skills are when we evaluate draft prospects.
Plodding, throwback, two-down linebackers don’t really have a place in our defense. Our linebackers need to be fast, comfortable in space, and have the instincts and confidence to trigger on their reads and sprint to the football. And while reads, technique, and moving with conviction can be taught, instincts are like anticipation with quarterbacks–sometimes younger players can develop them over time, but quite often you either have it or you don’t.
THE NEED
Dee Winters will get the first crack at the starting Will linebacker position vacated by Dre Greenlaw, but he’s had a string of injury issues and is still proving himself against the run. We’re likely trying to add a linebacker who can push Winters immediately for starting snaps and either beat him out or start at the Sam linebacker spot in base packages.
FIRST ROUND
17. Jihaad Campbell, Alabama
6-3, 235 lbs.
Big, athletic splash play generator with one significant flaw
If you’re counting Jalon Walker as an edge, then Campbell is the consensus top linebacker in the draft due to his size, athleticism (4.52 forty), youth (just recently turned 21), and penchant for making big plays in all three phases of the game. He can go sideline-to-sideline in the run game, is a natural in coverage, and is an excellent pass rusher—all skills that showed up on the stat sheet while leading Bama in tackles, TFLs, and sacks this season. However, his weakness is the red flag I mentioned earlier: instincts. He is too often slow to pick up the ball and trigger, he gets caught taking the cheese and peeking at backfield movements, and–to compound it all-when he is late in reading his keys, he struggles to take on blocks and get back in plays.
He’s young, so he has a bit of an excuse in that department, but—as mentioned earlier—you never know if a guy’s instincts are gonna improve or not once they get to the NFL. If they do, he could be a genuinely elite triple-threat linebacker. If they don’t, his career could wind up somewhere in the Tremaine Edmunds/Devin White realm—great athletes with a knack for flashy plays whose lack of diagnostic skills prevents them from stringing it together consistently. And the last thing I want from my linebackers is inconsistency. Which is why some people think he actually profiles best as a 3-4 stand-up rush end, where at least he can work on his reads and vision while typically coming forward.
SECOND ROUND
*42. Carson Schwesinger, UCLA
6-2.5, 242 lbs.
Former walk-on turned All-American with great athleticism and lightning-quick instincts
Schwesinger redshirted as a freshman walk-on, didn’t start a single game his next two years, and didn’t even begin the season as a starter at UCLA. But by the end of 2024, he was a First-Team All-American, a Butkus Award finalist, and led the FBS in solo tackles (90), with the highest FBS solo tackle rate (7.5/game) over the last four years.
The small sample size is confusing (was UCLA really so talented at linebacker that they couldn’t have played this guy earlier?), but his play feels sustainable because it’s built on elite instincts, a knack for flowing through traffic to the ball, and high-level play in all three facets. He’s an excellent athlete who is super quick and has loose hips to drop into coverage or slip past blockers with at least solid top-end speed. In some schemes, top-end speed is only marginally important for linebackers, but we ask our guys to carry receivers further down the field than most, so GPS data will be vital. And while he needs to add some strength and bulk so that he doesn’t get thrown around by blockers when he gets caught up in the muck, our defense typically protects smaller linebackers and lets them fly aggressively to ball–what Schwesinger does best. He also showed up bigger than his listed weight at the combine, but still registered a 39.5” vert, meaning he may have already started the process of addressing any size concerns. The top of the second is probably earlier than we’d like to draft a linebacker, but–as long as we like his speed–the talent and fit are excellent.
THIRD ROUND
68. Demetrius Knight Jr., South Carolina
6-2, 235 lbs.
Quick-triggering downhill linebacker who plays better in a mess than in space
A six-year player–for better or worse–Knight has great instincts in the run game, with a quick trigger, an innate ability to sift through blockers, good pop as a tackler, and solid strength taking on blockers. His physical demeanor and football character are sure to entice our coaching staff, but there are some concerns that he’s a bit too linear for our scheme. He gets overaggressive in his angles to the sideline and doesn’t show great change of direction or burst in coverage. Like Schwesinger, there’s some worry that his overall speed is overstated due to his excellent instincts, but–in this case–Knight may not show the fluidity in space to compensate for it in the passing game. There’s a lot to like here, but Knight’s best fit is probably on a defense that asks its linebackers to play backwards and in space less often.
97. Smael Mondon Jr., Georgia
6-2, 224 lbs.
Athletic cover guy and excellent tackler with injury and instinct concerns
A three-year starter who led the 2022 National Champion Bulldogs in tackles as a sophomore, Mondon’s an excellent athlete with high-end coverage potential who never misses a tackle. While on the smaller side, he has all the physical tools to be a starting linebacker in the NFL, but he’s a tick slow on seeing things and has been injured a lot. With this many years of starting, you’d hope his run game instincts and coverage awareness would be better. To be fair, a move from Mike to the more “run-and-hit” Will position could help in that regard but that’s not a guarantee. While he’s tough, he’s missed a lot of games due to injury, and—in true Georgia Bulldogs fashion—was arrested for reckless driving last summer before pleading out to a misdemeanor.
99. Danny Stutsman, Oklahoma
6-3, 233 lbs.
Throwback between the tackles thumper with plus athleticism but minus coverage chops
One of college football’s most productive run defenders, Stutsman is a very good athlete with great run game instincts who is at his best coming forward and thumping ballcarriers between the tackles. Unfortunately, the rest of his game has some question marks. The further the run gets outside, the more his angles and tackling efficiency slip, and in coverage, he is quite frankly a liability. While a good athlete, he doesn’t have the hips to play the pass, and he does not have a feel for zone coverage. Stutsman feels like the best fit for a scheme that funnels the run game to their inside backers and goes out of their way to protect them in the passing game. So… kinda the opposite of ours.
*100. Chris Paul Jr., Ole Miss
6-1, 222 lbs.
Speedy space linebacker with a well-rounded game despite size and strength concerns
One of only three FBS linebackers to score a PFF rating of 78+ in run defense, coverage, and pass rushing, Paul is a great athlete who excels in space and closes on the ball in a hurry. He’s fast, nimble, and impressively fluid in coverage–which is probably where he separates himself the most—but he plays with a relentless demeanor and is always around the ball. His biggest weakness is unquestionably his lack of size and length, which leads to issues taking on blockers and can show up when he’s tackling ballcarriers without a full head of steam. Since he started his career at Arkansas, his build and play style have already generated a lot of Dre Greenlaw comps. It seems fitting that he might be his replacement. The lack of size is a thing (despite comps, he’s 15 pounds lighter than Greenlaw), but Paul feels like a great schematic fit with excellent potential who could play right away.
DAY 3
A converted safety who moved down to the Mike linebacker spot to get their best athletes on the field, *Jeffrey Bassa (Oregon) has the coverage ability of a DB but the physicality and mindset of a linebacker. Fast, fluid, and an excellent tackler, Bassa needs to clean up some of his reads and habits, and was close but never really fully got there as a dominant force in college. But a shift to Will—where his lack of ideal bulk is less likely to get exposed—could help in that regard. He’s a bit more of a project but one that could pay dividends. (3rd-4th)
A former five-star recruit and three-year starter at Clemson, Barrett Carter (Clemson) is another undersized linebacker who hangs his hat on his athleticism and coverage ability. While his smaller stature caps his ability to take on linemen, he does well in space, showing great coverage skills and awareness–even if his ball skills themselves are only average. However, his instincts in the run game are a notch below, and he’s just not a good tackler (11% missed tackle rate). You also worry about his trajectory, as his PFF rating peaked as a sophomore before steadily declining as a junior and senior. (4th)
The other super athletic linebacker for the Bruins, Kain Medrano (UCLA) has truly impressive burst and speed (4.46 forty, 38” vertical), which allows him to affect the game in exciting flashes. But he’s small, can struggle with contact, and needs to get much better at tackling. While some of those misses could be fixed by him reining in his overaggressiveness a bit, the sheer number and consistency of the misses is alarming. (4th)
A two-time UC Davis captain who was also named captain for the Bears in his only year in Berkeley, Teddye Buchanan (Cal) has plus instincts and feel—likely from his long time playing quarterback—to pair with good (but not great) overall athleticism. He’s not super twitchy or sudden, but he’s a good mover in coverage, a strong tackler, and a sneaky blitzer (25 pressures, 5 sacks). He may be more of a Mike than a Will, but he’s intriguing. (5th)
While his mediocre testing raises some questions, Shemar James (Florida) looks quite athletic on tape, with seemingly good down-the-road potential as a speedy sideline-to-sideline defender. He feels a bit lost out there at times and needs to vastly improve his recognition skills to see defensive snaps, but he’s got the physical profile of a dude who can become a critical special teamer while he develops. (5th)
Nick Martin (Oklahoma State) is another vastly undersized linebacker with plus athletic traits. He comes from the Cowboys’ odd 3-3-5 defense, so there’s a little projection here, but he runs well, is physical at the point of attack, and seems comfortable in space. In the fifth he feels like a bit of a discount, but that’s also because he missed most of this season with a knee injury. (5th)
*Eugene Asante (Auburn) blazed to a 4.48 forty at the combine and that speed certainly matches his tape. Like most guys on this list, he’s undersized (6-1, 223 lbs.), but he’s an Energizer bunny type who flies around the field and plays with an infectious level of energy. Being perennially cranked to 100 gets him into trouble and out of position at times, and his overall production is underwhelming for a linebacker. But this guy feels like an immediate special teams ace who could grow into a defensive missile if he hones the instincts and control. (5th-6th)
A three-year James Madison player before following Curt Cignetti to the Hoosiers, *Jailin Walker (Indiana) is the lightest of a very small crop of linebacker prospects (6-0, 219 lbs.) but seems like he could add some weight while still keeping his rocket speed (4.40 forty, 10.53 10-yard split). When he sees it, he flies to it, and he’s got a knack for the ball, tallying six forced fumbles and five picks over the past three years. He’s clearly got the physical tools for immediate special teams work, and his production improved after a massive jump in competition a year ago. Could wind up a positionless nomad, but the appeal is there. (7th)
With 33 tackles for loss over the past two years, *Chandler Martin (Memphis) is a quick-trigger linebacker who plays active, reads fast, and flies to ball. Sometimes that aggressiveness runs him past the play or into blockers who can swallow up his smaller frame. And despite his impressive athleticism (4.54 forty, 37” vert) he’s not particularly great at coverage. But fast and instinctual is a good place to start. (UDFA)
An impressive size-speed guy, Justin Barron (Syracuse) was moved all over the field for the Orange, playing linebacker, safety, and big nickel as a three-year starter. Given that, you’d hope he was a little better and smoother in coverage, but he plays hard and runs fast. He’d contribute to specials immediately and perhaps—when put in just a single position—he could grow into the role to become something more. (UDFA)
BLIND GUESS
Lost in the departure of Dre Greenlaw is the fact that we also let Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles walk this off-season, meaning there are only two players on our roster who we’re comfortable with playing legitimate defensive minutes, and one of them is super injury-prone. The team seems optimistic on former seventh-rounders Jalen Graham and Tatum Bethune, but they feel more like projected depth pieces than players to rely on. I think we draft a guy we think can start right away and another (either drafted or as an UDFA) as a special teams ace with developmental upside.
There are quite a few linebackers in this class who seem like scheme fits, but only a few who feel like immediate starters, which is why I’d expect us to draft a linebacker by the end of the third round, top of the fourth at the latest. Schwesinger at 43 (or slightly higher, based on trades down/up) is probably the earliest we’d take a linebacker, while Bassa or maybe Carter feels like the lower-end of the spectrum for immediate contributors. If there hasn’t been a run on the position and we like all those dudes in the fourth round range, we could very well try and wait it out until the end of the fourth to address the position, but given how hard we tried to retain Dre Greenlaw (after he signed with the Broncos…), we clearly aren’t happy with our linebacker room. So waiting could be risky.
Go Niners 🏈👍
2025 Draft: Offensive Tackles
doubling up on Membou photos in hopes of willing it into existence
Part III of our draft preview series looks at our most annoyingly consistent weakness–the offensive line. Per usual, any number before a player dictates their “consensus big board” ranking. Asterisks (*) by names mark some of my favorite prospect/scheme fits.
With the Niners seemingly happy to let Ben Bartch and Nick Zakelj battle it out for the second guard position, this was going to be a write-up about tackles and centers. But then Shanahan had to wax poetic about surefire starter Jake Brendel at the owners’ meetings… so now, this writeup has become only about tackles.
While defenses have started to target some schematic weaknesses in our dropback passing game–namely our preference for hot routes over protection shifts on third and longs–most of our linemen are also just worse at pass blocking than they are at run blocking. Given our heavy lean on the running game and play action, our preference for run blockers makes sense, but it’s also possible to get guys who can do both. We just need to invest the draft capital to find them.
THE SKILLSET
Tackle is where we’re the pickiest, both in terms of athleticism and actually spending draft picks on the position (lol). These guys need to regularly pull off stretch blocks against wide-aligned defensive ends who know it’s coming and coordinate complex combination and switch blocks with tight ends and fullbacks on the edges. This is where quickness, athleticism, and range are critical. Luckily, those are also some of the key athletic traits for strong pass blockers. So there’s no reason why we can’t have both. It’s just difficult when you’re not spending the capital. And since Lynch and Shanahan have arrived, we’ve only spent one draft pick in the first two days on the tackle position.
THE NEED
With Trent getting old and missing a bunch of time last year and Jaylon Moore moving on in free agency, I think we’re well aware that we need to, at least, develop a tackle of the future. I still contend we wanted to take one in the second round of last year’s draft, which was much stronger at the position, but then got sniped by the Ravens (and potentially the Texans and Packers), making the need more pressing this off-season. But given the shape of this tackle class, which has very few prospects who mesh with our system outside of the top of the draft, I don’t think we force it. Maybe our stubbornness is actually a good thing this year and will prevent us from reaching on a prospect. But also… we have to add a tackle eventually? Right?
It’s also worth noting that there are so many guard/tackle tweeners in this draft class that it has actually become quite a ripe class for guards. While I won’t be including any pure guards in this write-up, there’s a chance we snag someone to play along the interior based purely on value in the middle-to-late rounds.
FIRST ROUND
Just a reminder, if you’re looking for descriptions of players we may pick at 11, you wanna check out the 1st round preview.
6. Armand Membou, Missouri
11. Will Campbell, LSU
18. Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas
25. Josh Simmons, Ohio State
SECOND ROUND
33. Josh Conerly, Oregon
6-5, 311 lbs.
Ascending athlete with sky-high potential who needs to add power and reps
Conerly started his high school career as a running back, so it should be no surprise that he’s an excellent mover, and his frame, length (33.5” arms), athleticism, and upward trajectory are all enticing fits for our scheme. He’s been mocked a bit in the first round—which seems a tad early—but in the second, the value feels better. But for all the upside Conerly has, it’s important to note that he’s likely in for some rough reps until he gets settled in the NFL.
At the moment, Conerly lacks punch and heft and can get bullied by bigger players. And while his burst and foot quickness are both excellent, they can be hindered at times by holes in his technique. So while he’s had his moments of rapid growth–a strong performance against Abdul Carter late in the season being one of them–he also suffers from some brutal reps, often when he gets overpowered–like his viral bulldozing at the hands of Mike Green during Senior Bowl practice. That could lead to some growing pains and PTSD flashbacks of ugly losses from McGlinchey and McKivitz over the years. The potential and trajectory are both pointing up. Just don’t expect him to be a plus performer out of the gate.
40. OT/OG, Donovan Jackson, Ohio State
6-4, 315 lbs.
A career guard whose emergency move to left tackle has bumped up his draft stock
A long-time guard who was considered purely an interior prospect until early this fall, Jackson bounced out to left tackle when Josh Simmons went down early in the season and was such a natural that he’s now being looked at for both positions. A film rat who had the best GPA on the team, Jackson’s got good agility for the zone stretch game, solid power as a run blocker, and could have genuine guard/tackle flexibility. There are some false steps and sustain issues in his game, and he probably still projects best as a guard, but the Niners are sure to like his intelligence.
57. OT, Aireontae Ersey, Minnesota
6-6, 331 lbs.
Heavy-handed monster of a tackle who moves better than he should
Minnesota’s massive, powerful tackle may not fit the mold of the typical players we employ outside, but he spent three years in the Golden Gophers’ zone scheme and moves very well for his size. He’s a person mover, with a strong punch and grippy hands, although I’m sure scouts were hoping his arm length (33.5”) would measure past 34” to help make up for some of his shortcomings. He’s a better-than-expected athlete but not a great one, and there’s some technical sloppiness in his game that he’ll need to clean up to make up for his size and the fact that he plays a bit high. He still feels like he’s bound for more of an inside zone/gap/power-based scheme, but–despite his size–I wouldn’t consider him out of the running.
THIRD ROUND
*67. OT/OG, Marcus Mbow, Purdue
6-4, 303 lbs.
Great athlete and easy mover who lacks proper tackle size but has a puncher’s chance to stick there
Mbow is more likely than not a guard on the NFL level (or maybe even a center?), but he’s going in this write-up anyway because I like him and the pickens at tackle (for our scheme at least) are SLIM. A former basketball player, Mbow is an excellent mover and one of the better athletes in this OL class, with twitch, fluidity, and good hand usage in everything he does. But he is very light for tackle and has super short arms (32”). He needs mass and more reps wherever he winds up, but he’s got the look of a starter somewhere in a scheme like ours with potential five position swing ability as well.
71. OT, Ozzy Trapilo, Boston College
6-8, 316 lbs.
Giant pass pro-first tackle with NFL bloodlines who might benefit from being more giant
A towering three-year starter at right tackle, Ozzy–whose father was an NFL tackle–is technically sound with solid movement skills. He showed added power this year and does a good job of using his size in the passing game, but that same size–his height in particular–can make it tough for him to get leverage and generate movement in the run game. He’d probably benefit from added weight to help him lean into the “huge guy” style of tackle play, but–either way–he may not be the best fit for our offense.
89. Cameron Williams, Texas
6-6, 317 lbs.
A prototypical frame that needs many firmware updates to be game-ready
With solid athleticism and ideal size and length, it’s not hard to imagine why people like Williams. At his best, he can engulf defenders in the run game and present a brick wall to pass rushers. But everything about him is raw. He’s not technically sound, he’s not consistent, and his issues show up clearly in his huge number of penalties (18 in 16 career starts). The upside is there, but the development curve will be lengthy. He’s nowhere near ready.
*91. OT, Charles Grant, William & Mary
6-5, 311 lbs.
Polished, high-upside FCS prospect with traits and a track record that project quite well
Yet another late riser who I’d penciled in as a lock for us at the top of the fourth round, Grant’s stock has skyrocketed to the point where it is very hard to determine where he gets selected. In a class that has so few guys with prototypical tackle frames, Grant is the exception. The two-time FCS All-American pairs excellent height and length (34.75” arms) with great athleticism, a physical mindset, and consistent, high-level technique. He’s a five-year college player who started 41 games over that time and whose technique is more advanced than many of the big school guys ahead of him. He may benefit from added bulk, and the step up in competition will be significant, but both the foundation and traits feel likely to travel well to the next level. He may or may not be a day 1 starter, but this feels like the type of prospect who can be had at an FCS discount with big-time payoff at a critical position.
95. Anthony Belton, N.C. State
6-6, 336 lbs.
The biggest of the big men with big man skills and big man problems
An absolute behemoth who is hard to miss, Belton’s a big player who plays a big man style of football. He does a good job of anchoring down, locking out defenders with his long arms, and mauling people with his strength. But while his footwork and speed are better than you’d expect on inside zone runs, when a defender forces him to change direction, his lack of movement skills shows up in a hurry. His recovery ability isn’t great, which can lead to misses and penalties (eight in each of the past three seasons). He’s a power tackle who doesn’t really fit our offense.
DAY 3
What’s that you say? There are only two true tackles in the entire second day who feel like good scheme fits? Yep. Last year was the year to get a tackle who you planned to play early. This year, not so much. But at least there are some interesting developmental guys.
At 6-7.5, 304 pounds, *Chase Lundt (UConn), is a great athlete who thrives in space, whether that’s on pulls and traps or blocking and sustaining on-the-move in the wide zone concepts we love so much. But he lacks size and power in all facets of his game, which isn’t helped by his naturally high pad level and his shorter arms (32 ⅝). He feels like a swing tackle (at least). And if he can add mass to his lower body while keeping his movement skills intact, perhaps more. (4th)
A one-year starter with a boom-or-bust trajectory, Logan Brown (Kansas) is a big dude with good athleticism, heavy hands, and impressive power. But while the wins look great, bad habits and sloppy technique also contribute to some ugly losses. It’s not hard to see a starter down the road, but it’s also not hard to see his technique never approaching a playable level. (4th-5th)
A Princeton transfer with just one year of FBS ball under his belt, *Jalen Travis (Iowa State) is a solid athlete who excels at blocking on the move in the run game and has the quicks and intelligence for pass protection. With middling strength, he gets into trouble when guys get into his pads and/or overwhelm him, but the foundation and athleticism make for an intriguing developmental project. (5th-6th)
A good mover with a basketball background, Branson Taylor (Pitt) has good slide quickness, hands, and initial pop in the run game. But his lack of length and sustain issues hold him back. He’s on an upward trajectory, although he may wind up at guard. (6th)
Yet another former basketball player, Esa Pole (Washington State) is nowhere near game ready as an NFL player, but he’s got a big body with nimble feet and powerful hands and only started playing football in 2021. The flashes, traits, and freshness to the game are all intriguing as a late-round flier. (6th-7th)
A project through and through, Caleb Etienne (BYU) has great size (6-7, 329 lbs.), length (36” arms), and testing athleticism (5.01 forty), but he never really put it together until this year—his sixth in college. Even if his quickness may not match the testing numbers, there’s some intrigue here as a developmental flier. (UDFA)
BLIND GUESS
We’ve had meetings with four of the five highest-rated tackles in this draft, so we know the Niners brass are doing their due diligence at the position. But at 11, the value may not be there. And in a class where a lot of the highest-rated tackles lack ideal length and could be better fits at guard, a mid-round developmental pick may prove prudent.
I personally love Charles Grant as a guy with long-term tools who may be ready to play sooner rather than later. Lundt is intriguing as well if we think he can add some mass. But given the scarcity of scheme fits and the many other needs on our roster, nothing is guaranteed. Regardless of how/when we address the position, what I really want is for us to invest in traits. We’ve spent too many years picking guys late with physical limitations who may—eventually—play above their draft slots but whose ceilings are hard-capped by measurables. McKivitz and Skule (who both started for their respective teams last year), and Zakelj (if he starts and performs okay this year) are all impressive developmental wins. No one is doubting that. But that’s a lot of time to put into developing players who lack upside.
If a draft prospect doesn’t seem wired right or the staff feels like he lacks the intelligence to cut it in our scheme, then I get it. Hard pass. But we need to add some guys who could become high-level starters down the road rather than settle for back-of-roster types on the cheap who we build up over the years into part-time starters or average full-timers. Yes, we’re coaching well and squeezing value out of late rounders. But at some point, it becomes a little too much like what the SF Giants have been doing. Winning on the margins is great. It’s a tremendous indicator of sustainability and often separates good teams from great ones. But committing only to those margins when there are higher-level options available for nothing but the sake of value squeezing is how mediocre teams and mediocre positional groups get and stay mediocre.
Tackle may or may not be a “right now” need, but it is a giant looming one sooner rather than later. So if we’re gonna spend a pick in this draft to find the next man up, let’s spend it on a guy who could excel at that position rather than just hold down the fort and maintain a status quo that we’re not happy with.
Go Niners 🏈👍
2025 Draft: Edges
searching for Bosa’s dance partner
Part II of our draft position preview series stays along the defensive line with the (seemingly) never-ending search for Bosa’s running mate at defensive end. Per usual, any number before a player dictates their “consensus big board” ranking. Asterisks (*) by names mark some of my favorite prospect/scheme fits.
Until Leonard Floyd put up 8.5 sacks a year ago, the most successful non-Bosa defensive end–in terms of sacks at least–was Arden Key, who tallied 7 while playing an inside-out hybrid role back in 2021. That’s not great.
Except for the few games Bosa and a healthy Dee Ford played together in 2019, we’ve largely gotten by with a slew of rotational players opposite our star defensive end. If we want to rejuvenate our pass rush, and–when guys get too costly–our comp pick pipeline, we need to develop some homegrown talent at the league’s second-most expensive position.
THE SKILLSET
People hear wide 9 and think first steps and closing speed are all that matter. But that’s not necessarily the case. The Wide 9 gives our linemen extra width and space to generate an advantage on offensive tackles, but how they obtain that advantage can vary by player. Dee Ford got it with an elite first step that outflanked tackles before they could get into their pass sets. Arik Armstead got it through building momentum to use his long arms and power to put blockers on skates. Bosa? Well, it mostly just gives him more space to work one-on-one looks. Once our ends get that advantage, it’s up to them to close down that space–in their proper rush lanes–so that we can collapse the pocket without opening up scrambling lanes for the quarterback.
But the wide 9 is only a part-time alignment. The key to performing well on both the passing downs when we employ it and the earlier downs when we run more traditional formations is to have players who specialize in controlled disruption, regardless of how they may generate it.
THE NEED
An eventual starter-caliber player opposite Bosa and/or rotational pass rush depth. We would happily take both, but may only be able to secure one or the other.
1ST ROUND
Just a reminder, if you’re looking for descriptions of players we may pick at 11, you wanna check out the 1st round preview.
1. Abdul Carter, Penn State
8. Jalon Walker, Georgia
14. Mike Green, Marshall
15. Mykel Williams, Georgia
16. Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M
20. James Pearce Jr., Tennessee
6-4, 245 lbs.
Speed merchant whose bend and technical growth will determine his ceiling
An explosive speed rusher whose testing numbers (4.47 forty, 1.56 10-yard split) match his tape, Pearce has racked up 17.5 sacks over the past two years and a sky-high 23% PWR (2024) to boot. He’s slippery ducking inside of blockers and closes on QBs in a hurry, and he shares a lot of physical similarities with shoe-in top ten picks of the past. But there’s some stiffness in his hips and choppiness in his feet that sometimes prevents him from smoothly running the hoop and finishing, and—in terms of pass rush moves—he’s got to work on his craft. At a lean 245 pounds, the mass and strength concerns that we had with Jalon Walker are certainly present with Pearce. It’s also worth noting that “unnamed sources” have claimed that Pearce was a locker room headache with massive immaturity concerns throughout college. Is there any legitimacy to these claims? Who knows. It could be just pre-draft B.S. But the Niners will do their best to find out through the interview process.
26. Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College
6-2.5, 248 lbs.
Bendy, skilled, and productive pass rusher who lacks explosive elements to his game
If Pearce is an explosive athlete with concerns over hip stiffness, Ezeiruaku is the opposite. His first step is mediocre, but he’s got great bend to run the hoop and take down ball carriers once he’s in the backfield, which is where he finds himself quite a bit due to his versatile pass rushing toolkit. However, size and power are issues in his game, and this, combined with his lack of burst, probably means he’s a better fit as a 3-4 rush end than a base end in a four-man front.
NOTE: Defensive End Mike Green out of Marshall is at least worth mentioning here because I actually like his tape quite a lot, but I would presume he’s off our board due to the revelation that he was booted from UVA and his high school over two separate allegations of sexual assault. This was something that he brought up during the combine, and–of course–he states his innocence. Nonetheless, this feels like a landmine to avoid.
2ND ROUND
Once again, don’t take the second and third round dividing lines as gospel. There’s no consensus in this draft and they’re only guidelines for easier visualization.
42. Landon Jackson, Arkansas
6-6, 264 lbs.
Unorthodox athlete with a frame and funky athleticism that somehow both help and hurt his ceiling
Years ago, a video circulated on social media of a lanky high school prospect awkwardly going through a bag drill at a recruiting camp. Well, jokes on us, cause that guy is probably getting taken in the top 50 picks of the NFL draft. Jackson’s a hard prospect to comp because of his high-cut frame and unorthodox movement skills. He’s actually more bendy than you’d guess given his frame, but–despite strong overall athleticism (4.68 forty, 40.5” vertical)–his first step and fluidity are less than ideal. He doesn’t project as an elite pass rusher, but he’s a high-effort and technically sound player with a broad-shouldered frame and a high floor. If he can continue packing weight onto his frame, perhaps his power game can overcome some fluidity issues and his pass rush ceiling winds up higher than expected.
*44. Nic Scourton, Texas A&M
6-3, 257 lbs.
High-motor scrapper with a wrecking ball approach and potentially underrated athleticism
While getting Scourton with our second-round pick would be great, this ranking feels like it could be a touch low. Scourton was listed at 280 this past season but showed up to the combine 23 pounds lighter. In some situations, that’s a bad thing. But in this case, Scourton–who looked more explosive in 2023 while at Purdue and in pre-draft workouts than he did in his one season at A&M–could benefit from the weight loss. So could the team that eventually drafts him.
Scourton is a brawler on the edge, with excellent aggression, good power, and a growing array of pass rush moves to get to the quarterback. While his sacks and QB hits were down from a year ago, he eclipsed 36 or more pressures in each of the past two seasons while totaling a 17% PWR and excellent pass rush grades in his one-year stop in College Station. He feels like a long-time NFL player, and while his lack of testing numbers makes for some guesswork, if he truly is a step more athletic than he showed last year, he could easily outplay his draft position.
56. JT Tuimoloau, Ohio State
6-4, 265 lbs.
Jack-of-all-trades with a high floor and a nose for the ball
Tuimoloau is solid at everything–a high-floor, two-way performer with good size, good athleticism, and a strong bull rush game as a pass rusher. He’s instinctive in the short and screen game, moves well in space, and is a three-year first-team All-Big Ten selection with a knack for finding the ball. He feels like a safe bet to have a long NFL career and become a starter sooner rather than later, but he hasn’t shown the technical expertise, burst, or bend to project him as a future premier pass rusher.
*59. Jordan Burch, Oregon
6-4, 279 lbs.
A sleeping giant with great power and athleticism, waiting to be awoken
A first-off-the-bus type and the next in a long line of giant Oregon defensive linemen, Burch’s size and athleticism (4.67 forty) present tremendous upside and inside-out versatility. But right now, his traits far outweigh his production. At the moment, he’s basically got one move: physics. When he gets into people’s pads and gets moving, his bull rush can ragdoll blockers, and he is alarmingly quick to close on the ball when that happens. But he needs to be much more consistent at getting blockers in those positions and figure out a counter or two when plan A doesn’t work out. Despite his ten sacks last season, Burch is a bit of a project, but the Niners have a great relationship with the Oregon coaching staff and should know quickly whether he’s wired the right way to maximize his considerable physical talents.
60. Jack Sawyer, Ohio State
6-4, 260 lbs.
Strong and active run defender who plays hard but lacks pass rush upside
The Buckeyes’ other five-star defensive end from their vaunted 2021 recruiting class, Sawyer had excellent pass rush numbers as a senior, totaling 10 sacks, 26 QB hits, and 64 pressures (good for 4th in FBS). To some, that may point to untapped potential and an ascending pass rusher, but I’m not sure I see it. Sawyer is powerful at the point of attack and–against the run–does a good job of locking out his arms and keeping tackles off his body. But he is a linear, one-trick pony in his rush and lacks the first-step quickness, athleticism, and pass-rush savvy to present much upside in the department. Still, he feels like a long-time pro and a ready-made run defender. But his greatest pass rush contributions may come via hustle plays and clean-up sacks.
64. Princely Umanmielen, Ole Miss
6-4, 244 lbs.
Finesse edge with “gangly noodle alien from Edge of Tomorrow” upside
Long, bendy, agile, and with sneaky stride lengths that eat up space in a hurry, Umanmielen seems like a dude who may need to be a stand-up rusher in a 3-4, in part due to size but also because he just feels like a finesse edge who needs to watch things develop to be at his best. He was super productive in that role this season, with 50 pressures and a top 10 PWR (22.8%), but just isn’t a guy who sets edges and plays with power at the moment. He’s a super interesting prospect with considerable upside once he improves substantially at the point of attack, but he may not be a good scheme fit for us.
3RD ROUND
70. Josaiah Stewart, Michigan
6-1, 249 lbs.
Undersized edge who wins off quickness, effort, and aggression
Like other edge prospects of similar stature, Stewart’s lack of size may limit him to a future as a 3-4 OLB, but while he’ll likely have anchor issues in the pros, he plays hard, fast, and aggressive at all times. He’s got a great first step and a good pass rush stem, dipping and ripping and taking advantage of slow-footed tackles with his quickness and approach. Without ideal length or size and good but not great closing speed, he’ll need to add more pass rush moves to his toolkit, but he was massively productive throughout college (30 career sacks), his 27.7% PWR was second best in the country this year, and his mentality should translate well to the pros.
*73. Bradyn Swinson, LSU
6-4, 255 lbs.
One-year wonder with long-term pass rush potential
A late-bloomer who started only one year in college but made the most of it once he got on the field, Swinson racked up 60 pressures (9th in FBS) and a 22.1% PWR (13th in FBS) this season. With a frame that can likely add more weight, long arms, slick athleticism, and hand usage and instincts that belie his few collegiate starts, Swinson is a one-year wonder with some intriguing pass rush upside, even though there’s a lot of fine-tuning and technique work left in his development.
*78. Oluwafemi Oladejo, UCLA
6-3, 259 lbs.
High upside developmental project who’s shown hints of developing faster than expected
A late-riser whom I thought we could snag in the fourth round but may need to spend more capital on now, Oladejo only moved from off-ball linebacker to edge last fall, so there’s a lot of technique that needs refining and experience that needs to be had before he can become a regular contributor. But the combination of build, length, bend, and athleticism has already produced promising results quicker than anyone could have expected. While there are no guarantees that he’ll put everything together, he seems like a quick study with sky-high upside.
90. Jared Ivey, Ole Miss
6-6, 274 lbs.
Big-bodied power end with inside-out potential if he can clean up his craft
With a massive build and the strength to use it, Ivey can toss his weight around versus both the run and the pass. While lacking great burst, he’s surprisingly nimble for a man of his size, but sometimes he leans too much into it, vacating rush lanes while hunting the quarterback. In general, he’s a guy with the tools to be an excellent power end, but you wanna see it more often. If he can improve his technique and become more disciplined and consistent, he could become a dangerous inside-out threat.
*92. Kyle Kennard, South Carolina
6-4, 254 lbs.
Slender speed rusher with run game holdups but pass rush juice to spare
A lean pass rusher who wins with a quick first step, slipperiness through the hole, and by using his long arms to keep blockers off his body, Kennard’s active hands and athletic profile make for a great pass rush foundation. However, he can get bullied at the point of attack and in the run game, and with his ability to add more weight in question, he’ll need to continue refining his hand technique and develop more counter moves to become a full-time player rather than a pass rush specialist. If he can hang in the run game, the scheme fit and pass rush potential are pretty nice.
DAY 3
INSIDE-OUT THREATS: We love guys who have the size and power to slide inside on passing downs and operate in twists and games. Each of these guys has the prerequisite bulk and play style to rush inside from time-to-time.
While he lacks the first step and athleticism we typically covet in defensive ends, Ashton Gillotte (Louisville) is a highly productive pass rusher who wins with great power and a relentless motor. He’d need to rein in some wild pursuit angles to solidify himself in the run game, but it’s hard to deny his production (118 pressures over the past two years). (3rd-4th)
Without ideal speed or bend, there’s some debate on whether Sai’vion Jones (LSU) belongs inside or out, but he’s got a 6-6, 283-pound frame, long-ass arms, and youth (21) on his side as he figures it out. (3rd-4th)
You want a big power end who could play some inside? How about the 6-4, 285-pound Elijah Roberts (SMU), who uses his strength, long arms, and powerful base to beat up tackles? He’s not the dynamic athlete we typically like on the edge, but his unique build and playstyle could prove valuable, especially if he can genuinely play inside or out. (4th-5th)
A good athlete with decent size, Tyler Baron (Miami Fl.) doesn’t have great burst or strength but is a slippery pass rusher with experience playing on the edge or condensing inside on passing downs. (6th)
COLLEGE OVERACHIEVERS: Productive college players whose lack of measurables has led them to slip down draft boards. Typically (but not always) lower ceiling players with the technical ability to give them a decent rotational floor.
At 6-1, 263 pounds with short arms, *David Walker (Central Arkansas) is below some teams’ height and length thresholds (and played on the ugliest football field on planet earth), but he was a dominant FCS performer, totaling 82.5 TFLs and 39 sacks over four years while being named All-American in three straight years. The length concerns are legit, but he is explosive, powerful, and has natural pass-rushing instincts. (4th)
With back-to-back years of double-digit sacks (for two different programs), Fadil Diggs (Syracuse) is a productive stand-up rusher who would need to learn to play with his hand on the ground. He doesn’t have great burst, but as a big guy (6-4, 257 lbs.) with nearly 34” long arms and sneaky stride lengths that match his 4.57 forty, there’s a lot to work with. (4th-5th)
The first player from Egypt to ever play FBS football, Ahmed Hassanein (Boise State), didn’t enter the country until 2018 then started playing football a year later. He’s a tough, high-motor guy who put up the third-most pressures in FBS (115) over the past two years. Only a decent athlete, he’s shown fast improvement and probably has a higher ceiling than he’s given credit for due to how new he is to the sport. (6th)
PASS RUSH SPECIALISTS: Their run game impact may be debatable, but they can do the other thing well enough that they could at least become part of a subpackage rush unit.
Antwaun Powell-Ryland (Virginia Tech) racked up 19 TFLs and 16 sacks as a senior–his second straight year leading the Hokies in both categories. A skilled pass rusher and flexible athlete, his below-average length and (only) above-average burst cap his ceiling a bit, and at 6-2.5, 258 pounds, he could be a liability in the run game. (5th-6th)
Quick off the ball and powerful through his lower body, Kaimon Rucker (North Carolina) plays stronger than his size (6-0, 254 lbs.) when he can get his base set, but he can get swallowed up when he doesn’t. He’s got a nice pass rush foundation with a few good moves and active hands, but doesn’t have much of a plan when he doesn’t win early. (6th)
DEVELOPMENTAL SWINGS: Toolsy long plays for Kocurek to mold like clay.
*Jah Joyner (Minnesota) has the size (6-4, 262 lbs.), length (34” arms), and athleticism (4.60 forty) that you want at the position, but his process is predictable and clunky, and he’s still very much a work in progress. Albeit one with impressive upside. (5th)
A productive FCS product with some intriguing testing scores (1.56 10-yard split, 41” vert) and good length, *Elijah Ponder (Cal Poly) is quick off the ball, uses his hands well, and feels like a good late round flier, even if he tops out as a subpackage pass rusher. (6th-7th)
An undersized but high-effort player with long arms and good burst, Seth Coleman (Illinois) hasn’t really put the rest of it together, but he’s got some pass rusher potential if he can align his first step with the rest of his game. (UDFA)
BLIND GUESS
I think we want to exit this draft with a defensive end in tow who we think could be the long-term, full-time starter opposite Bosa. He doesn’t have to be that now, but he has to have enough production, experience, and projectable traits for us to feel confident about his trajectory after a year of learning on the job. That probably means we’re picking that dude as early as the first round and as late as the bottom of the third.
If we don’t secure a guy by the end of day 2, expect us to throw multiple bodies at the problem in the later rounds in hopes that we can develop a deep enough rotation that someone will emerge down the road. This is actually a great time for a project player either in the mid-rounds (Oladejo, Swinson) or earlier (Stewart, Williams) because we jettisoned Leonard Floyd specifically to force a rookie to take on major snaps. With our needs at defensive end and at defensive tackle, don’t be shocked if we use the meme approach. Spending four of our first six or seven picks on the DL isn’t wildly unrealistic. Nor is it necessarily a bad thing.
Go Niners 🏈👍
2025 Draft: Defensive Tackles
large and in charge
Our position preview series kicks off with the strongest position in this draft class and the biggest hole on our roster: defensive tackle. Per usual, any number before a player dictates their “consensus big board” ranking. Asterisks (*) by names mark some of my favorite prospect/scheme fits.
Football isn’t always won in the trenches, but when you can dominate both lines of scrimmage you make things a helluva lot easier for yourself. And while our needs along the offensive line could be considered, due to long-term neglect, more annoying, the situation along our defensive line is more dire.
After a long run of strong defensive play, last year’s defense fell to 13th in DVOA and 22nd in EPA/play. Against the run, we were 22nd in DVOA and 26th in EPA/rush. And while that unit was beset with injuries, some of those injured players aren’t coming back (Huf, Dre, Hargrave), while other more available members of last year’s defense have signed elsewhere (Floyd, Collins, Ward).
THE SKILLSET
The Wide 9 makes things more and less complicated when scouting defensive linemen. We know we want guys who can explode off the ball and shoot into the backfield, so fast first steps and 10-yard splits are important. But to prevent getting gashed on the ground, we also need guys who can come in under control and hold their own at the point of attack. A lot of players are one or the other–not both. So the trick here is finding guys with the right blend of both skill sets and then—when those guys run out—mixing and matching the more one-dimensional prospects.
This isn’t a scheme where we need a traditional space-eating nose tackle, but we’ve been at our best when we can pair one of our gap shooters with an interior player who is elite against the run. For years, DJ Jones held down the middle as a true NT before handing off that duty to Arik Armstead–who wasn’t a nose tackle but had the strength and stoutness of one at the point of attack.
THE NEED
At least two guys who can play right away. At least one who can start earlier than later. The best-case scenario is a three-tech type with high-end pass rusher ability AND a nose tackle type who can stuff the run but still has pass rush potential down the road.
1ST ROUND
Just a reminder, if you’re looking for descriptions of players we may pick at 11 (like the first three names on this list), you wanna check out the 1st round preview.
4. Mason Graham, Michigan
22. Walter Nolen, Ole Miss
27. Derrick Harmon, Oregon
30. Kenneth Grant, Michigan
6-4, 331 lbs.
Grant is the first–and most intriguing–of a string of monstrous nose tackles with serious athletic upside. A regular on Bruce Feldman’s Freaks List, Grant is certified gigantic, but he moves better than some defensive ends. And when he gets a runway to a quarterback, it’s like a horror movie in how quickly he closes distance.
Grant didn’t test as well as his pro day as many expected, but—nonetheless—the potential here is pretty outrageous. Guys that big and that explosive typically get drafted high, and Grant will be no exception. But his pass rush ability is a work in progress. You know he can stop the run. He’s shown that. At worst, he’ll be a two-down run-stuffer who can make plays up and down the line. And he put up a respectable 27 pressures last season, so there’s at least some production to match the pass rush potential. But without a tremendous first step or the natural agility to routinely win early over linemen, he has to work for any pass rush he creates. Which means he must get better at keeping his pads low and stringing together moves. The flashes are there, but consistency and polish are needed. Grant is a nose tackle through and through, and while he could shape into someone in the Vita Vea/Haloti Ngata mold, there’s also a world where he never moves the needle vs the pass.
Shades of: DJ Jones on HGH
2ND ROUND
Separating day 2 prospects into round 2 and round 3 is a largely futile exercise, but I’ve done exactly that in hopes that it can help better visualize the clumping of talent in different position groups. However, the separation between rounds is based solely on the consensus big board ranking and shouldn’t be taken as gospel.
*46. Tyleik Williams - Ohio State
6-3, 334 lbs.
A run-stuffing bowling ball with quick flashes of pass-rush prowess
If Kenneth Grant was a run-stopping specialist who needed to improve his pass rush, Williams is an even greater exaggeration of the same mold. Both huge, both athletic, both excellent against the run. But while Grant averaged 25 pressures and 4 sacks over the past two years, Williams averaged 21 pressures and 2.5 sacks. And while Grant’s PWR of 9.4% was a weak spot in his game, Williams had a lowly PWR of 6.6% and a pass rush PFF rating of 59.5(!). He’s shown flashes of greater potential in that area, so his upside is still high. But–like Grant–don’t be surprised if he winds up more of a one-way player.
49. Darius Alexander, Toledo
6-4, 305 lbs.
Small school post-season riser whose potential is only capped by his advanced age
Alexander was one of the big winners of the Senior Bowl, looking athletic and more than capable against larger school opponents before keeping his momentum going with a 9.20 RAS score (out of 10.00) at the combine. He’s a two-way three-technique with great strength who is more advanced as a run stuffer but whose 37 pressures last season point to solid pass rushing upside. Some believe his age (24) caps his ceiling. Whether that’s true or not, he seems like a player whose best ball is ahead of him.
*52. TJ Sanders - South Carolina
6-4, 297 lbs.
Ascending two-way talent whose hand usage and power give him a nice ceiling and floor
10 sacks and 25 QB hits over two years is a solid stat line for a defensive tackle in college, especially one who just started playing football as a junior in high school. Sanders isn’t as athletic as some other guys on this list. His first step is only average and he lacks some lateral movement and fluidity to his game. But he’s powerful at the point of attack, has great hand usage to disengage, and is both an accomplished pass rusher and an excellent run defender. As a late starter, he’s also gotten consistently better every season he’s played football, making for a player with a high two-way floor who still has some room to grow.
58. Joshua Farmer, Florida State
6-3, 305 lbs.
Long-levered scrapper with a bowling ball approach
For better or worse, there’s not much nuance to Farmer’s game. He’s big, explosive, and uses his long ass arms to keep linemen off his body as he bull rushes into the backfield. His size and strength give him some positional versatility, but he’s more of a chaos agent than a polished product, which leads to some lost plays and blown assignments against the run. There’s plenty of potential here, but you gotta find a way to keep him reined in and pointed in the right direction.
62. Alfred Collins - Texas
6-6, 332 lbs.
Monstrous power-first player who is better against the run than the pass
The last of the trio of “high potential two-gappers,” Collins has ideal size and length and improved dramatically this season after stepping into the shoes of Byron Murphy and T’Vondre Sweat. His long arms help him bat down passes and show off his strength, which manifests most prominently in the run game. But–at the moment–batting down passes is probably his most effective move against the pass. He’s not a lost cause in the department, but he isn’t the athlete Grant and Williams are, so his pass-rush projection is much more bearish.
*65. Shemar Turner - Texas A&M
6-3, 290 lbs.
Violent, high-effort one-gapper who tows the line between “to” and “after” the whistle
Turner is a bit of a tweener, but that’s not necessarily an issue for our scheme, and he plays with the kind of violence and aggression that can offset some of his size limitations. He was potentially destined for the first round before playing the 2024 season on a stress fracture, which showcased his toughness but led to a major dropoff in play from his junior year. He’s full go all the time, which is a coach’s dream… except for when that translates into a slew of 15-yard penalties… which Turner has had a bunch of throughout college. If this is a Dre Greenlaw situation–where the player isn’t dirty but he gets caught on the wrong side of the line more often than most–then who cares. But we’d wanna make sure that’s all it is in pre-draft interviews before pulling the trigger.
3RD ROUND
*77. Omarr Norman-Lott, Tennessee
6-2, 291 lbs.
The half-empty/half-full debate in a small sample size pass rushing wonder
I’m gonna give you two stats to explain why Norman-Lott is such a polarizing prospect: 18.9% PWR, the best in the country along the interior DL, but he only played 17.4 defensive snaps per game. Norman-Lott is an excellent athlete with good size, a great first step, and impressive fluidity. He can struggle to anchor and needs a better pass rush plan when he doesn’t win early, but if you just watch his highlight reel, you’d think he was a top 10 player. So why did a guy who tallied as many pressures as Kenneth Grant in nearly 200 fewer pass rush snaps play so few snaps to begin with? And why does a fifth-year player have so much technique work to still hammer out? Is he a late bloomer or someone who has hit a wall skill-wise? Is he a disruptive diamond in the rough or destined for a subpackage interior rusher role in the NFL? These are the many questions dictating Norman-Lott’s draft stock, and I can’t answer them. But if we do like him, the fit and potential are both outstanding.
*98. CJ West, Indiana
6-1, 316 lbs.
Active interior man whose lack of length and height could be mitigated by our one-gapping scheme
A stout, plugger of a player whose stock has risen after his combine testing (9.15 RAS) matched his strong first step on tape, West has short arms and no real go-to pass rush moves, but his strength and athleticism make him potent against the run and viable in stunts, slants, and other types of line games. Not sure how high the ceiling is, but the fit as a rotational tackle with some projectable pass rush juice is intriguing, and it’s not hard to squint and see some traits in West that have worked in the past with other shorter, quicker guys in our scheme.
DAY 3
For round four and later, I’ve tried to separate players into broad archetypes.
DJ JONES(ISH) NOSE TACKLES: Run-first guys with enough size to play the nose and enough quickness to elicit some pass rush upside–even if they may top out as two-down run stuffers.
Jordan Phillips (Maryland) doesn’t turn 21 until after the draft, which explains some of his lack of development and production (zero sacks across 23 college starts). But with good size (6-2, 312 lbs.) and great power and explosiveness, he’s a toolsy developmental play. Just don’t expect immediate returns. (3rd-4th)
Ty Hamilton (Ohio State) is a bulked-up former end who was a bit miscast as a nose tackle in an attempt for the Buckeyes to get their most disruptive four linemen on the field. But the foray into nose gives him a nice pairing of one-gap explosiveness and two-gap scrappiness. He could wind up too small for the nose (6-3, 299 lbs.) but has intrigue either there or as a three-tech. (3rd-4th)
Deone Walker (Kentucky) pairs a 6-7, 331-pound frame with oddly light feet and flashes of dominance (53 pressures, 8 sacks in 2023), but there’s a whole lot of sloppiness to iron out in his game, and he took a big step back this season. His interview will be important. (3rd-4th)
*Jamaree Caldwell (Oregon) will probably not become a fixture in backfields anytime soon, but he’s a big body (6-2, 332 lbs.) with the quickness and activity level of a smaller player and experience playing both nose and three-tech. His size and traits should translate against the run, and his 25 pressures last season point to a glimpse of pass rush potential. (4th)
Payton Page (Clemson) entered college at 395 pounds before committing to his diet and losing 100 pounds so he could see the field. The result is a still-big-bodied player with some surprising quickness for a long-term developmental prospect. (UDFA)
A converted linebacker, Junior Tafuna (Utah) has plus athleticism and—when his pads are right—surprising power at the point of attack. There’s not a lot of surprise or craft to his game, but the movement skills are intriguing and he can sneak up on people with his strength. (UDFA)
COLLEGE OVERACHIEVERS: Productive college players whose lack of measurables has led them to slip down draft boards. Typically (but not always) lower ceiling players with the technical ability to give them a decent rotational floor.
Urgent, active, and explosive, *Aeneas Peebles (Virginia Tech) had the 6th-most pressures amongst FBS DTs this season. His serious lack of length and size (6-0.5, 282 lbs.) limit him to certain schemes (like ours) and could ultimately relegate him to a subpackage rusher role, but he brings a ton of pass rush juice as a quick-winning gap-shooter. (3rd-4th)
With the build and size that more closely resembles a gigantic defensive end (6-5, 288 lbs.) and without the plus athletic traits to make up for it, Ty Robinson (Nebraska) likely will never become a premier pass rusher. But his power, bull rush, and ability to muck up the works should land him somewhere in an NFL rotation. (4th)
GAP SHOOTERS: While many of these guys lack the two-way ability or size to project as full-time starters, some could get there with time, while others could be valuable bench rushers.
A six-year player who is still quite raw, *Jared Harrison-Hunte (SMU) is a high-motor pass rusher with great feet (basketball background) and flashes of punching power and athleticism (4.86 forty)–even if they’re hindered a bit by inconsistency and technical weaknesses. His ability to develop as a base down player is TBD, but his pass rush talent (his 44 pressures were second-best in FBS among DTs) is likely to translate. (5th-6th)
There’s small and then there’s Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins (Georgia) small, whose 6-5, 276-pound frame really sticks out (in a bad way) on the interior. But his long arms, high-end athleticism (4.86 forty, 36” vert), and active flashes scream developmental flier with inside-out potential. So much so that teams are split on whether he projects best as a tackle or on the edge. (5th)
While his lack of size (6-1, 285 lbs.) may limit him to a subrusher role, *Howard Cross III (Notre Dame) has great quickness, feet, and hand usage to cause chaos early in snaps. It’s later in snaps–particularly against the run–where he runs into problems. But the athleticism and work ethic seem like a worthy bet this late. (7th)
A former state champion wrestler, Kyonte Hamilton (Rutgers) has good strength, quickness, and leverage. Lots of other stuff to be worked out, but feels like a potential practice squad developmental add. (UDFA)
FLEX DEPTH: Guys who are known for their versatility along the DL
JJ Pegues (Ole Miss) is a bit of an oddball in that he isn’t as powerful as his 6-3, 309-pound frame might indicate, but he’s also a better mover than you’d expect. Pegues can play up-and-down the line, and–as a recruited tight end–can moonlight on offense. In 2024, he played some fullback, rushing for seven touchdowns and converting for a score or first down on 18 of his 21 carries. Just saying… (4th-5th)
Is he a three-tech? Is he a 3-4 end who shouldn’t even be in this write-up? Rylie Mills (Notre Dame) plays a bit upright and linear, but he has good quickness and power and a strong punch. He blew out his knee late in the CFP so his rehab table will be important. (4th-5th)
Lining up everywhere between the tackles, Warren Brinson (Georgia) doesn’t have great production nor consistent impact, and there are some concerns about anchor strength. But he’s typically stout against the run, and his flashes of explosive burst to collapse gaps are at least intriguing. (6th)
BLIND GUESS
Given the depth of the class and the desperation of our need, I’d say we draft at least two defensive tackles and as many as four(!). Including UDFAs, we should walk away with at least 3 to 5 rookies with a genuine shot of making it through camp (even if some wind up practice squad stashes).
While there are plenty of intriguing players through that cuspy 3rd-4th round area, the glut of talent in the second round is difficult to ignore—especially when you consider the possibility that guys like Kenneth Grant, Walter Nolen, or Derrick Harmon could potentially slide out of the first. Given that, 43 is a nice place to be, as it puts us in a good position to snag someone who’s slipping or take our pick of that next tier of tackles. Depending on how many guys we like, this feels like another potential trade-down scenario, or—if one of those first-rounders does fall—an opportunity to trade up a few spots to snag a higher-graded player. But I’d be surprised if we don’t draft a DT who we plan to start immediately by the top of the third round at the very latest.
Expect us to leave with at least one guy we think can be a two-way starter (with two likely the goal), then some mixing and matching of subpackage pass rushers and run-stopping plugger types.
Go Niners 🏈👍