San Francisco 49ers 2025 NFL Draft Grades
The San Francisco 49ers had a rough season last year mostly due to injuries. Offensive weapons, Christian McCaffrey and Brandon Aiyuk, only played in a handful of games, and the defense regressed. They hope to be contenders in the NFC again this year. Free agency was rough as they lost players due to the number of large contracts on the roster. The draft was a great time to get young talent back on the roster. How did they do? Here are the NFL Draft grades for the San Francisco 49ers.
San Francisco 49ers NFL Draft Grades
Round 1, No. 11: Mykel Williams, Edge, Georgia
Grade: C+
I don’t think this is a terrible pick by any means. However, it is a huge gamble for the San Francisco 49ers, which is not what you want at pick 11. In three seasons at Georgia, Williams only racked up 14 total sacks. That lack of production is concerning. The raw tools are there, which is why this pick isn’t a complete disaster. However, the 49ers are banking on being able to develop him into a quality edge rusher. With Robert Saleh piloting the defense again, it is a fair bet, but this pick is a massive risk.
Round 2, No. 43: Alfred Collins, DT, Texas
Grade: A
The San Francisco 49ers were clearly prioritizing the defensive side of the ball in the first few rounds. Collins is a great pick for a team that struggled on the defensive line last year. San Francisco’s defense has been dominant because of the play of the defensive line led by Nick Bosa. Last season, the 49ers bled yards on the ground. Addressing this need with the first two picks is a great move for the team.
Round 3, No. 75: Nick Martin, LB, Oklahoma State
Grade: B+
The San Francisco 49ers continue to address the defense. Martin fell to the third round because of an MCL injury that caused him to miss seven games. The injury did not require surgery, and he performed well at the NFL Combine. Outside of Fred Warner, the team is thin at linebacker. In the past, the defenses have been dominant because Warner and Dre Greenlaw took care of the second level. The hope is that Martin can return to form and play off Warner.
Round 3, No. 100: Upton Stout, CB, Western Kentucky
Grade: A
This might be my favorite pick from the San Francisco 49ers. Their secondary was decimated in free agency as they lost Charvarius Ward, Rock Ya-Sin, and Isaac Yiadom. Stout is a sticky corner with some excellent stats to his name. In the past two seasons, he has not allowed a touchdown when he is the closest defender. Last year, he was only targeted eight times. He should have plenty of opportunities to carve out a role in the secondary and shut down some of the best receivers in the league.
Round 4, No. 113: CJ West, DT, Indiana
Grade: A-
Do you think the San Francisco 49ers want to stop the run in 2025? West is another run-stopping defensive lineman who shows great burst off the line. Since 2021, he has 52 stops at or behind the line, which is the most among defensive tackles during that span. He’s a great rotational piece for the defensive line and will get plenty of reps next year.
Round 4, No. 138: Jordan Watkins, WR, Ole Miss
Grade: B-
The San Francisco 49ers traded away Deebo Samuel this offseason, and Aiyuk is coming off an ACL injury. Watkins stepped up this past year after Tre Harris went down with an injury. However, his tape leaves me wanting more. At the Combine, he showed off his speed, but you rarely see it on the field. He has some value on special teams and could be a gadget play guy for Kyle Shanahan. He did have a nose for the endzone, and Shanahan can find a use for any weapon.
Round 5, No. 147: Jordan James, RB, Oregon
Grade: B-
It wasn’t surprising to see the San Francisco 49ers address the backfield. However, I didn’t think they got the best prospect in the draft. This was a deep running back class, and the team could have gotten a better back earlier. However, I can’t fault them for committing to the defense, and Kyle Shanahan has proven he can get the most out of any running back. This pick is fine.
Round 5, No. 160: Marques Sigle, S, Kansas State
Grade: B
Sigle is an interesting player to watch for next season. The San Francisco 49ers aren’t loaded at the safety position, and the Kansas State product has some tantalizing traits. He ran a 4.37 40-yard dash at the Combine, making him one of the fastest players in the draft. This means he could recover well and contribute on special teams. Don’t be surprised if this pick becomes one of the steals in the draft.
Round 7, No. 227: Kurtis Rourke, QB, Indiana
Grade: A
I’ll give any quarterback pick in the seventh round an A. My philosophy is that every team should take a quarterback in the draft. The San Francisco 49ers are proof of why this philosophy works. Rourke suffered an ACL injury, another one on a long list of injuries; otherwise, he may have gone higher. He has a great build and is a solid thrower, as we saw last year. You never know when you might need a quality quarterback, and the 49ers got a solid one.
Round 7, No. 249: Connor Colby, OL, Iowa
Grade: B
The San Francisco 49ers waited until late in the draft to take an offensive lineman. While they have a need at tackle, it will have to wait another year. Colby was a solid starter for a Big Ten team and adds good depth. However, he doesn’t fix any problems immediately, and the 49ers have a timeline to compete.
Round 7, No. 252: Junior Bergen, WR, Montana
Grade: C-
The only shot Bergen has is on special teams as a returner. Obviously, players can surprise you at any point, but his likely path for a roster spot is at returner. Considering the San Francisco 49ers took a similar player, albeit one with more upside, earlier in the draft, this pick confuses me.
Overall Draft Grade: B-
It’s an above-average draft for the San Francisco 49ers. However, there are too many picks here that have massive question marks for my liking. I love what they did on day two, but the other days had some duds. The rest of the NFC West got better, and there will be pressure to get back on top of the division. Did they do enough in the draft?
