Should the 49ers take one of the top offensive tackles if they fall to No. 11?
With the 2025 NFL Draft just one day away, it’s seeming more and more like the San Francisco 49ers will take either an offensive lineman or a defensive lineman with their first-round pick.
The only questions are 1) which one, and 2) what happens if top players at both positions are on the board?
Well, that’s exactly what happened in ESPN’s Matt Miller’s latest mock draft, where he compiled notes from NFL scouts and evaluators to make up his final first-round mock.
The first four picks went as expected: Cam Ward to Tennessee, Travis Hunter to Cleveland, Abdul Carter to New York, and Will Campbell to New England.
After that came the first domino, as Miller had the Jacksonville Jaguars take running back Ashton Jeanty at No. 5 overall over a wide receiver (Tetairoa McMillan) or an option in the trenches (Mason Graham).
With Jeanty gone at No. 5, the Los Vegas Raiders took an offensive tackle, only not the one that many have mocked to them in recent weeks: Texas’s Kelvin Banks Jr.
“Multiple sources told me the Raiders could go offensive line here despite being heavily connected to Jeanty and Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham,” Miller wrote. “With Kolton Miller not locked up long-term, Banks would be the answer at left tackle.”
So, Banks going means that both Graham and offensive tackle Armand Membou fell to No. 7.
Then came another surprise: the New York Jets taking Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker over a tight end (Tyler Warren), a cornerback (Jahdae Barron), or an offensive tackle (Armand Membou).
“Here’s a curveball [at No. 7]. In multiple talks with sources, the Jets were mentioned as a team that wants an impact defender but most importantly desires a culture-building leader,” Miller shared. “That’s Walker, whom coaches and scouts agree is one of the most-loved players in this class. The Jets could also be in play for tight end Tyler Warren (Penn State) or cornerback Jahdae Barron (Texas) based on what scouts are saying.
Following that, the Carolina Panthers took a defensive lineman, only it was Walter Nolen, whom the 49ers have been mocked to quite a bit, rather than Graham, as the first defensive tackle off the board.
The New Orleans continued the trend of front seven players by taking Georgia’s Mykel Williams at No. 9 in Miller’s mock, taking another possibility off the board for the 49ers. Chicago followed that up with Michigan tight end Colston Loveland at No. 10, adding a playmaker for Caleb Williams and leaving a plethora of options for the 49ers.
San Francisco has been in need of an offensive tackle for the future, with Trent Williams nearing retirement and Colton McKivitz having one year left on his deal. And they fell into the possibility of taking one in this mock draft with Armand Membou sliding to No. 11.
But, Miller has the 49ers focusing on the other side of the ball with another sliding player, taking Mason Graham, and shoring up their interior defensive line.
“The 49ers were very active bringing in offensive tackles for predraft visits,” Miller wrote. “According to team sources, they hosted Banks, Josh Simmons (Ohio State) and Josh Conerly Jr. (Oregon), but with Banks off the board they would pivot to a “best player available” approach versus drafting right tackle Armand Membou (Missouri).
The 49ers have been connected to Banks throughout the pre-draft process, and he has received a lot of buzz heading into the draft as a possible top-10 pick. But, it’s interesting that Miller believes San Francisco would bypass another top offensive tackle for a defensive tackle, given the depth at both positions in the draft.
Graham is considered one of the blue-chip prospects in this class, so his falling to No. 11 would be a favorable scenario for the 49ers. And it seems that could be more of a reality than previously suggested, with other prospects getting more buzz heading into draft day.
Another intriguing note from Miller’s mock draft was the Houston Texans selecting Ohio State offensive tackle Josh Simmons at No. 25. Why exactly?
Well, the analyst noted that Simmons’s ceiling seems to be No. 11, where the 49ers are picking in the first round.
“Simmons’ draft range is among the widest on the board, according to scouts,” Miller wrote. “Some said he could come off the board as early as No. 11, while others said he could slip out of Round 1 because of concerns about interviews and his patella tendon tear sustained in October. Per one scout, the Texans are desperate to fix their offensive line. Guard Tyler Booker (Alabama) has also been mentioned as a target here.”
Simmons hasn’t been considered much in mock drafts due to his patella tendon injury. But, he could be a dark horse option for the 49ers, depending on how the board falls tomorrow evening.
What would you do in this scenario? Scroll down and let us know in the comments.