Your daily San Francisco 49ers news for Thursday, May 8th, 2025
Expectations for 49ers’ 2025 draft class after offseason re-tooling
“Williams has the ability to move inside and rush the passer in nickel situations. But it might be best to keep him at one spot early in his career.”
Evaluating the 49ers’ draft class: Did they potentially add 5 defensive starters? (paywall)
“He has good linear speed off the football, and when you look at Saleh’s defense and those Wide-9 alignments … you see (Nick) Bosa and how wide he is outside the tackle,” Bowen said. “That gives you a long runway and build-up speed, and what that allows you to do is attack the edges and, more importantly, play with speed to power.
“Bosa is the best speed-to-power rusher in the NFL right now, and Williams, that’s one of his best traits. He is quick, and he has other traits as well, and Saleh can use him in loaded fronts and bump him inside. Give him a running start on an offensive guard and make a guard play in space. Williams really fits their scheme.”
49ers almost used first draft pick on offensive player. Who did they have in mind? (paywall)
“Lynch, who is close with Saints general manager Mickey Loomis, said New Orleans passed on Williams because they didn’t expect the player they took, Texas offensive tackle Kelvin Banks, to be available at No. 9. And there’s evidence to suggest the 49ers would have taken Banks if the Saints had opted for Williams.”
Fowler details 49ers’ draft strategy; 4 experts predict DROY honors for Mykel Williams
“I talked to a few teams picking high who wondered whether San Francisco would move up for a playmaker such as Tetairoa McMillan or Colston Loveland,” Fowler continued. “And the Saints (No. 9) had been linked to Mykel Williams, San Francisco’s pick at No. 11, so a trade with Carolina would have allowed the Niners to get ahead of New Orleans, to be safe. But staying put worked out.”
Fowler also noted that defensive tackle Mason Graham had viewed San Francisco as a possible destination if he slipped out of the top 10.”