With Mykel Williams at 11, did the 49ers decide they didn’t want protection for Brock Purdy? Or is the priority giving Robert Saleh his defense?
We’ve already seen how Mykel Williams fits schematically with the San Francisco 49ers. But beyond Xs and Os, the 49ers’ first-round pick says a lot about where the team’s head is, and it speaks volumes about the narrative moving forward.
Three things come to mind:
1: The defensive line struggled to get to the quarterback, arguably more than the offensive line struggled to protect theirs.
2: The 49ers are committed to rebuilding their defensive line
3: If you didn’t realize it yet (all two of you), Drake Jackson didn’t work out.
Sure, a lineman on the offensive side of the ball would have been nice. The league made a few adjustments to that plan, with the New England Patriots selecting LSU offensive tackle Will Campbell and the New Orleans Saints selecting Texas offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr., respectively.
According to 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan, Williams was the guy all along.
“My wife and kids, I told them who I wanted last night,” Shanahan said at the press conference following Williams’ selection. “I trust them—none of you guys know them. I told them I wanted Mykel, and I was like, ‘But I don’t think he’s going to be there.’”
Combining Williams’ availability with how quickly the 49ers switched from being on the clock to having the pick, it makes sense that Williams was the guy all along. The only concern was whether he would be available.
Aside from Nick Bosa, the 49ers’ defensive line production wasn’t ideal in 2025: 23rd in sacks, 15th in run defense, and 29th in points allowed. And if you need a prime example of fans’ fury, go here. While that entire series sums it all up, that final play had Robert Beal, among others, struggling to stop Geno Smith, of all people. That can’t happen, and with Williams’ arm length of 34 3/8 inches, it might at least curb that.
And then there’s Drake Jackson, the original choice to be opposite Bosa, who wasn’t even playing, let alone working. That’s not someone you extend past 2025.
At the core of it, the 49ers couldn’t generate enough pressure. While some of us may bang the table for better pass protection for Brock Purdy, maybe the more urgent fix is making sure Purdy gets back on the field after a punt, not a touchdown.
If Williams can work out and take some heat off Bosa, the 49ers will only need to worry about the center of the defensive line, which they can address on Day 2 or Day 3 of this year’s draft or maybe next year.
Rohan pointed out that Williams has some developmental questions. However, if all we get is a solid run defender, that addresses a significant problem the 49ers had in 2024. If that’s the floor, I’ll gladly take it.
But that leads to a larger question. When you hear the word “development,” you instantly think of someone who will need work. It raises a fair question: Is this front office leaning into potential more than plug-and-play? Is 2025 less “Super Bowl or bust” and more “get them reps and see what sticks?”
Regardless of how the season plays out, it’s clear the 49ers are prioritizing the defensive line first before the offensive line—for now. It will be interesting to see if they continue to retool the defense and give Robert Saleh something to work with within 2025, or if they shift to provide Purdy with the much-needed protection.
The 49ers still have 10 picks remaining in the 2025 NFL draft. The first pick doesn’t write the full narrative, but by all of them. More answers should come in the coming days.
That’s what I’m gathering from this. What do you think this pick says about the 49ers?