What Does the Pick of Mykel Williams Mean for the 49ers?
After a chaotic offseason and draft process so far for the 49ers and the commotions of them trading up or down, it ends with the selection of Georgia edge rusher Mykel Williams with the 11th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Coming from Georgia, Williams doesn’t shy away from the big moments, and it showed throughout his entire collegiate career. He is a young talent as he is only 20 years old, but he has a ton of experience being a true freshman starter for the Bulldogs. Williams has also displayed his leadership in his time at Georgia, which made teams like San Francisco fall in love with him as a full prospect. The 49ers have missed on early draft picks in the past, and selecting a prospect with championship-level leadership is crucial.
The team needs tough, impactful players to fit alongside star players like Fred Warner and Deommodore Lenoir, and Williams is as tough as they come. Quite similarly to Warner, he played through a high ankle sprain for the majority of the season, proving to be a vital piece in the SEC Championship run. A gritty mentality has been what the 49ers have been missing over the last couple of seasons. I think Williams can slide right in his rookie season and be a difference maker in that aspect from the jump.
The 49ers came into the 2025 NFL Draft with several needs, with the biggest one being establishing movement and penetration in the trenches on both sides of the ball. With the 11th pick, Williams brings elite athleticism and run-stopping ability that should translate to the next level. Due to his unique size and traits, there is a likelihood that he can develop into a stout pass rusher as well. In any case, it was a much-needed selection as the 49ers have been searching for a defensive end opposite of Nick Bosa for his entire career. I think Williams could provide an effective complementary piece next to Bosa early in his career while developing into a disruptor on both run and passing downs in the long run.
They were reportedly attempting to trade up a couple of picks to select Williams as they anticipated him being picked ahead of their pick. However, San Francisco didn’t pull the trigger and give up additional assets. The 49ers instead stuck and picked Williams, who fell into their lap and seemed to be their selection throughout most of the process, no matter what. The team truly fell in love with his character and skill set, which reminded me of Aldon Smith, the former 49ers defensive end who played a key role in some deep playoff runs early in his career. During the season, it will be intriguing how the 49ers will prioritize their first-round rookie’s development.
