49ers defensive players under the most pressure heading into training camp

There’s pressure at players on all three levels of the 49ers’ defense as they head into training camp this month.

The 49ers’ defense heads into 2025 under a huge deal of scrutiny following a nightmare 2024 season for the unit in its lone year under the guidance of Nick Sorensen.

Not helped by injuries, San Francisco’s defense slumped from one of the better units in the NFL to a bottom-half group and a sieve against the run, the 49ers’ struggles predictably leading to the firing of Sorensen.

For 2025, there is renewed hope with the return of Robert Saleh as coordinator and the 49ers’ heavy investment in the defensive front as San Francisco looks to ensure that group returns to being a driving force of success.

But with expectation of a bounce-back comes pressure and, after looking at the three offensive players under the most pressure heading into training camp this month, we now turn our attention to the defense.

Mykel Williams

The 49ers relieved some of the pressure on Williams from a pass-rushing perspective with their trade for Bryce Huff, which should allow him to play inside more often on true passing downs and facilitate more opportunities for him to disrupt the quarterback in those situations.

But scrutiny is a given when you are selected with the 11th overall pick, and Williams will spend the entirety of camp and preseason under a spotlight that will remain throughout the regular season.

Earlier offseason practices showed a player who is as advertised in terms of his physical stature. The challenge in camp, and indeed in preseason, will be for Williams to boost confidence he can help immediately improve a run defense that was dreadful in 2024 and demonstrate early signs of development as a pass rusher.

If he can display the prowess against the rush that was obvious in college in training camp practices and in preseason, that will be a promising sign for Williams at least being an asset to the 49ers in one facet of the game as a rookie.

Should he consistently shine as a pass rusher, excitement around his ceiling as a high-impact defender will rise. With the 49ers having invested so much in his services and pinned much of their hopes in run defense on his abilities, what Williams can’t afford is a training camp in which he fails to stand out for anything other than his massive frame.

Dee Winters

The 49ers could have sent a clear signal to Dee Winters that he is their choice to succeed Dre Greenlaw as their WILL linebacker by not investing in the position in the draft.

Instead, they made it clear he will have significant competition for that spot next to Fred Warner by selecting Nick Martin, whose collegiate tape at Oklahoma State screamed Greenlaw successor, in the third round.

Their battle for that spot will be one of the most important competitions in training camp as the 49ers aim to find a long-term solution at a position that was a huge problem area in Greenlaw’s absence as De’Vondre Campbell floundered in his lone season with San Francisco.

Having had some starting experience at WILL and operated as the SAM linebacker last season, Winters should head into training camp with the edge. He has showcased promise in coverage and offers upside as a blitzer, though his success rushing the passer in college hasn’t translated to the pros as yet.

But if Winters does not shine in training camp and Martin catches the eye early, then that advantage could soon evaporate. Winters has had to be patient in waiting for his opportunity, which should have come last year when the 49ers bizarrely persisted with Campbell. Now it’s within his grasp, Winters will be desperate to ensure he doesn’t let the chance to be a three-down starter slip through his fingers.

Ji’Ayir Brown

The 49ers are unlikely to have Malik Mustapha for the start of the season after he was discovered to have suffered a torn ACL in the 2024 regular-season finale.

Jason Pinnock is the favorite to start in Mustapha’s stead until he recovers, meaning the 49ers will be entrusting, at least temporarily, one safety spot to a player who is a big favorite of defensive coordinator Saleh, but who also gave up four touchdowns in coverage last season and surrendered a passer rating of 135.9 when targeted in his final season with the New York Giants.

Handing Mustapha’s spot to Pinnock represents a gamble on the 49ers, making it all the more important they get solid play at the other safety position from Ji’Ayir Brown.

Brown did not make the leap the 49ers expected him to in 2024 and he was in and out of the lineup down the stretch. Having been held out of earlier offseason practices after undergoing an ankle procedure, Brown can ill-afford to miss large portions of training camp or struggle to hit the ground running when he does get back onto the field.

The 2023 third-round pick has some credit in the bank, but has not previously worked with Saleh. As such, there is a need for Brown to make a big first impression and put to bed the idea of the 49ers turning to another safety such as Richie Grant to partner Pinnock. Fail to do so, and the 49ers might be tempted to turn to a brand new pairing Week 1 against the Seattle Seahawks.