After a disappointing 6-11 finish in 2024, San Francisco is lurking just outside the top 10 picks in the upcoming 2025 NFL draft.
The 49ers own the No. 11 overall selection where they should be able to address one of their needs with a potential star of the future.
The Athletic’s Mike Sando released a piece on how NFL executives believe the 2025 NFL draft’s top 10 picks will play out and it could be fantastic news for San Francisco.
One NFL execs’ top 10 ballot sees this scenario unfolding: Tennessee drafts Miami quarterback Cam Ward with the No. 1 overall selection. Then, Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders comes off the board at No. 2 to the Cleveland Browns.
The New York Giants select Penn State edge Abdul Carter No. 3, New England drafts Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter No. 4 and the Jacksonville Jaguars choose Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham at No. 5 to round out the top five selections.
From there, the Las Vegas Raiders draft Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty No. 6, the New York Jets select Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart No. 7, Carolina grabs Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan No. 8, New Orleans drafts Texas offensive tackle Kelvin Banks No. 9 and the Chicago Bears select LSU offensive tackle Will Campbell No. 10.
If the draft unfolds this way, the 49ers could snatch up one of four different players that are currently ranked inside ESPN’s top 10 best available players.
Under this scenario, Penn State tight end Tyler Warren, Georgia edge rushers Jalon Walker and Mykel Williams and Ohio State offensive tackle Josh Simmons would all be available options. Each of ESPN’s top two cornerbacks in Michigan’s Will Johnson and Texas’ Jahdae Barron would still be on the board as well.
That’s a good list of potential 49ers that San Francisco would have to decide upon if this NFL exec’s top 10 is accurate.
Warren seems like the unlikeliest option. Though 49ers star tight end George Kittle is entering the final year of his contract, the 31-year-old showed he still has plenty of tread left on the tires last season. Kittle reeled in 78 receptions for 1,106 receiving yards with eight touchdown grabs.
But, maybe San Francisco shocks everyone and finds Kittle’s successor if Warren is still on the board.
Either Walker or Williams would make a lot of sense to pair with Nick Bosa. Walker racked up 10.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks this past season en route to capturing the Butkus Award, which is presented to the nation’s best linebacker.
Simmons might develop into Trent Williams’ heir apparent. Or, either of the two cornerbacks would fill a need with Charvarius Ward entering free agency.
Though the 2024 season was disappointing, the No. 11 overall selection looks more and more like it will provide the 49ers with an opportunity to retool its roster in a hurry.
This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.
