In his initial 2025 first-round NFL mock draft, esteemed ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. projects San Francisco to address the offensive side of the football.
Kiper’s initial projection sees the 49ers scooping up talented Texas Longhorns offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. with the No. 11 pick.
Banks just completed his junior season with Texas where he was recognized with both the Lombardi Award and Outland Trophy. A native of Humble, Texas, Banks is projected as Kiper’s second offensive lineman to come off the board.
Kiper’s lone hangup with Banks is how he might measure at the combine.
Banks has a ton of experience, having started 42 games over his college career — and he allowed only three sacks over that time. I’m curious to see his combine measurements — height might be a question mark if he’s 6-3 or shorter — but he has the movement traits and strength to seal off the edge in pass protection.
The 49ers still have Trent Williams locking down the left side for two more seasons, but he will be 37 at the start of next season. It’s time to start planning for the future. Plus, Banks could help on the right side for now, where the Niners have missed Mike McGlinchey (signed with Denver two years ago). – Kiper, ESPN.
Banks arrived in Austin with lofty expectations. Out of Summer Creek High School, Banks was a five-star signee and was ranked as the No. 6 player nationally according to On3 in the 2022 signing class.
Banks met and exceeded those forecasts, becoming the trustiest of security blankets for Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers’ blind side.
As the 49ers look toward their future, drafting Banks could mean that San Francisco found its heir apparent to longtime superstar left tackle Trent Williams.
Williams is under contract for the next two seasons and the indication is that the All-Pro intends to play.
Still, the 49ers need to start making plans for life after Williams. Plus, Williams is coming off a 2024 season where he played in just 10 games as an ankle injury lingered over the back half of the year.
Drafting Banks would allow the 49ers to play him at right tackle alongside Williams. If Banks looks like a potential All-Pro during his first two seasons in the league, that might give the franchise the confidence to shift him over to left tackle as Williams’ eventual successor.
Or, Banks just locks in at right tackle long-term.
San Francisco really can’t go wrong upgrading its offensive or defensive lines and Banks looks like he has the makings of a franchise left tackle down the road.
Per Pro Football Focus, Banks allowed just 10 pressures this past season and he finished with an 86.0 offensive grade, which was tops among Texas’ offensive starters.