The 49ers entered this draft with more holes than usual. Will that open the door for one of the rookies to contribute more than initially anticipated?
The San Francisco 49ers entered the 2025 NFL Draft with more holes up and down their roster than we have typically seen in recent memory. That’s no surprise, factoring in the roster turnover and a team coming off a 6-win season.
We had a good idea that the Niners would draft multiple defensive linemen, given the structure of the roster, and they did not disappoint after using three picks in the first four rounds to bolster the trenches. But Upton Stout and Nick Martin will have plenty of opportunities to earn playing time early on. The same could be said for Marques Sigle.
That brings us to the question of the day.
Which 49ers rookie will have the most impact in 2025?
Mykel Williams and Alfred Collins are players we can assume will start. C.J. West might battle Jordan Elliott for snaps on early downs. Nick Martin will go head-to-head with Dee Winters to battle for the primary playing spot next to Fred Warner.
It will take an injury for Jordan James to have the most impact. That’s likely a sign that Christian McCaffrey’s season was cut short. Jordan Watkins probably falls in the same boat. Connor Colby might have the best shot offensively.
My answer: Alfred Collins
It might’ve surprised some when anonymous scouts ranked Collins as DT3 in the 2025 NFL Draft. There’s no debate that Williams is the most talented player with a high upside — and floor — but he’s a player who will put his best foot forward a couple of years from now. That’s to be expected at age 20.
Collins sat behind first-rounder Byron Murphy and T’Vondre Sweat at Texas. He flourished in his first year as a starter, and that should continue with the 49ers as a rookie. It comes down to opportunity, and there isn’t a player on the 49ers roster who should steal snaps from Collins early in his career.
At 330+ pounds, with the way Collins moves, I believe he’ll have the biggest impact on a defense that desperately needs a run-stopping force like Williams and Collins. If Martin plays well as a rookie, it’ll be because the defensive line in front of him is holding up well and doing its job.
Who is your answer? Vote in the poll below and scroll down in the comments to let us know why.