The 49ers need several members of their 2025 draft class to hit the ground running, but how many will actually start as rookies?
It has been repeated ad nausea how important the 2025 draft class is for the 49ers. San Francisco needs to get significant contributions from several members of its 11-man class to maximize its hopes of contending for a Super Bowl run after last year’s 6-11 campaign.
For their short-term goals and for the long-term health of the roster, it is crucial that the 49ers see multiple rookies hit the ground running in a year where a favorable schedule should aid their hopes of doing so.
But how many of the 49ers’ rookies are likely to be in a position to make a considerable impact in a starting role in 2025?
With training camp on the horizon, let’s examine that question.
The locks
There are two players who appear to be certainties to start year one. Mykel Williams, the 11th overall pick, is expected to be the 49ers’ starting defensive end across from Nick Bosa on base downs. It is anticipated he will kick inside and rush from the defensive tackle spot on true passing downs.
Second-round defensive tackle Alfred Collins signed his rookie contract this week, and he can essentially be considered a lock to start given the lack of veteran alternatives. The 49ers are hoping he can substantially improve their interior run defense on base downs and harness the untapped potential they believe he has as a pass rusher.
Set for camp battles
Third-rounders Nick Martin and Upton Stout will each be hoping they can come through training camp battles and earn starting positions.
Martin is a strong bet to be designated as a starter. Even if he loses his camp battle for the WILL linebacker spot with Dee Winters, he will be expected to be the starting SAM backer after the 49ers bet on him to continue playing above his size at the NFL level, Martin having done so consistently at Oklahoma State. Still, Martin will be keen to have a three-down role at WILL rather than a bit-part one at SAM.
Stout is set to battle it out with Tre Brown for the third cornerback spot. After impressing in earlier offseason practices, the diminutive Stout heads to camp hoping to convince the 49ers to play him as their nickel and move Deommodore Lenoir back to the outside corner spot full-time.
Fourth-round defensive tackle CJ West is probably the player taken outside the top two rounds who has the best chance of starting right off the bat. West had a substantial influence as a run defender at Indiana and, with Kris Kocurek praising him for having hands “advanced for where he’s at this stage in his career”, he can afford to have confidence of beating out Jordan Elliott for the starting defensive tackle job next to Collins.
San Francisco spent their final pick of the draft on Junior Bergen, a return specialist out of Montana who scored eight punt return touchdowns in college. His challenge is to convince the 49ers that his skills in that area are sufficient enough to take a place on the roster away from a player on offense and defense. It would help his cause substantially if he can showcase some upside as a receiver as well as in the return game.
Half a chance, maybe
The 49ers added to their receiver ranks in the fourth round, selecting Jordan Watkins out of Ole Miss.
Rookie receivers have often found opportunities hard to come by under Kyle Shanahan, and Watkins has plenty of players ahead of him on the depth chart.
However, with Brandon Aiyuk’s return date uncertain, Jauan Jennings a potential trade candidate if the 49ers can’t come to terms on a new contract, Ricky Pearsall nursing a hamstring injury, and Demarcus Robinson facing potential league discipline, there’s at least a small chance Watkins could line up as a Week 1 starter.
Seventh-rounder Connor Colby and UDFA Drew Moss could also have an opportunity to start at left guard, though that will depend on the nature of Ben Bartch’s injury after he was placed on the non-football injury list to start training camp.
Long shots
Fifth-rounder Marques Sigle’s hopes of being an unlikely starter were boosted by the news that the 49ers released George Odum on Saturday, moving him up the depth chart at safety. However, with Malik Mustapha unlikely to be ready for Week 1, the most probable outcome is that Ji’Ayir Brown and Jason Pinnock are the starters to begin the campaign.
Running back Jordan James will be expected to start the season as the 49ers’ third running back, though the former Oregon star having a prominent role cannot be ruled out considering the injury histories of Christian McCaffrey and Isaac Guerendo.