The Niners draft class is not being well received
Draft analysts everywhere are grading every team and evaluating their performance from a value perspective now that the 2025 NFL Draft is behind us. We compiled this for the San Francisco 49ers’ draft class last year, and there was only one analyst who gave San Francisco an A grade. Everyone else was not as high on the ‘24 class, and the 49ers ended up being ranked 25th.
One year later, we can all agree that the 49ers did not have one of the worst draft classes. Many would argue the opposite. So, keep that in mind as we go through the same exercise this year, as the 49ers draft class is once again not being received very well.
This year, there are 24 instant evaluations of the Niners’ draft class. Once again, only one evaluator gave San Francisco an A grade. They did, however, receive four D grades, bringing the overall GPA down to 27th among all teams in the NFL:
This list is compiled from most major sports publications, including ESPN, CBS Sports, and NFL Network, among others. Let the record show that I’m not the biggest fan of consensus boards because these are the same people who were low on Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson and are hilariously wrong each year without any repercussions.
It’s also worth pointing out that, as John Lynch alluded to, positional runs. For example, perhaps the 49ers wanted an offensive tackle at the top of the third round, but that position saw a run earlier than expected due to the lack of depth and talent in the class. The consensus board doesn’t account for that.
That can be true while also acknowledging that history is against you when you reach out to a prospect. Last year, by all accounts, that player was Ricky Pearsall in the first round. This year, it seems to be Nick Martin from the third round.
First-round pick Mykel Williams was well received, almost universally. Stacking Alfred Collins and CJ West made the 49ers plan clear: We need to disrupt the quarterback and stop the run. The upside for Williams and Collins is there, but their floor is high enough for the 49ers to be confident that they found two quality starters.
Williams is 20. There’s no guarantee we’ll know who he is as a player until Year 3. The growth he will experience during the next three years should be substantial, but that will depend on usage, coaching, and staying healthy.
The success of this draft class doesn’t depend on Williams being a 10-sack-per-season player. That’s not why the Niners drafted him, Collins, or West. They knew that if they didn’t fix the run defense that has been bottom of the barrel in the NFL these past two seasons, Nick Bosa would never get an opportunity to rush the passer the way opposing offenses lived in short-yardage situations.
Thirteen of the 24 evaluations gave San Francisco a B grade. So it’s not like evaluators are sour on what the Niners did this past weekend in the draft. How many contributors can the 49ers find after Day 1? Martin, Upton Stout, and even Jordan James will have an opportunity to play early as rookies. Collins not starting would be a surprise. And it might not take long for West to establish himself in the rotation.
Getting five players to see the field from your rookie class would be a dream for any general manager. Ideally, you’re roster is stocked with enough veterans and quality players that these rookie’s roles aren’t just for development purposes as you punt a season.
Williams is young but hardly inexperienced. Last year, the 49ers benefited from fifth-year seniors, making the transition easier for them to see the field. That’s the hope with Collins, four-year junior Martin, and five-year junior Upton Stout.
Lynch and the 49ers brass would be pleased if they could turn three players from this class into long-term starters. Based on the number of B grades the Niners received, evaluators believe the likely outcome from San Francisco’s draft class is that they’ll churn out a few starters. That’s a win.