Draft Prospects the 49ers Should Target with the 11th Pick
The 49ers enter the 2025 NFL Draft with more needs than answers at a multitude of positions on both sides of the ball. With key losses in the free agency period, GM John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan will have to ace their selections and it all starts with getting it right at the 11th pick. The team would like to capitalize as they sit in an unfamiliar position picking so early. However, that’ll happen when you have lacked draft success in the past and overthink the obvious upgrades.
San Francisco struggled to stop the run throughout the entirety of last season. The run defense unit showed hints of being a liability throughout crucial moments last season as well. The 49ers need a revamp in the interior and the first prospect I want to look at is Michigan’s defensive tackle Kenneth Grant. Paired with Mason Graham, another top pick in this draft, the big man combines his unique size with some overlooked athletic traits. Grant is six-foot-three and 340 pounds, which explains his dominance in some moments during his time with the Wolverines. The 49ers want size and prospects with potential three-down versatility and Grant is capable of just that.
Any team in a position to draft a player with the talent of Jahdae Barron should at least think about his possible fit within their team. Barron is scheme versatile and has shown through his collegiate career he can be placed anywhere within a defense. He displayed his ability to drop back as an outside corner for Texas this past season after playing primarily in the nickel throughout his first few seasons with the Longhorns. The 49ers, especially with the loss of Charvarius Ward, would be mistaken if they don’t consider the possible young trio they could create in the corner room between him, Deommodore Lenoir, and Renardo Green.
The 49ers lost multiple key starters in free agency this offseason, who were a part of their last few Super Bowl-contending rosters. There was no bigger loss than linebacker Dre Greenlaw, who is now heading to Denver. A player like Dee Winters could fill that role as the partner next to All-Pro Fred Warner. However, teams should always be looking to upgrade at any position, and a prospect like Jalon Walker who can play a hybrid role for San Francisco off the edge or in coverage could prove to be useful in a Robert Saleh defense. Walker came up clutch in big moments down the stretch for the Bulldogs as they won yet another SEC Championship. Proven winners at the college level can always be beneficial for a team like San Francisco that has failed at reaching the mountaintop.
One thing about a Kyle Shanahan offense is that it requires an effective outside zone blocking scheme. The offensive line unit for the 49ers saw some critical regression last season and has question marks once next season begins. Trent Williams hasn’t played a full season since arriving to the Bay in 2020 and rookie Dominick Puni looked to be their only bright spot. The 49ers need to establish the trenches on both sides of the ball and when talking about the offensive lineman in this draft process, no one has shined more than Missouri’s Armand Membou. Membou is an athletic beast as displayed at the combine where he ran a sub-five 40-yard dash and is a versatile player, who has the arm length to play tackle but the anchor and play strength to transition very well as a guard at the next level.
Relaying back to the urgent need for the team to add a pass rusher in this draft who can play on the opposite side of superstar defensive end Nick Bosa, there are many options to choose from. It truly depends on how they value each prospect’s fit on that front four. Georgia edge rusher Mykel Williams I think could answer many of the problems the team faced last season. His run defense is top-tier for any prospect in the draft and he has the body type to truly develop his toolbox as a difference-maker in the pass rush. The 49ers haven’t valued this position since they drafted Bosa with the second overall pick in 2019. However, giving Bosa support is crucial in how the defense will find success next season. In all reality, it is better late than never.
