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CBS Sports annually ranks the top 25 players under the age of 25. Two San Francisco 49ers defenders
made this year's list. Not included on the list are rookies, as they are an unknown commodity for NFL teams.
"Both past performance and projection (go into the ranking), as well as, to a lesser degree, positional value," wrote Cody Benjamin. "So it helps if a player has already been really good for three years, but it also helps if his future outlook is really bright."
Starting at No. 25 and working our way up the list, the first 49ers player to make an appearance is All-Pro linebacker
Fred Warner at No. 11.
"In a day and age where linebackers are increasingly shuffled to the sidelines in favor of cover men, Warner has consistently popped at the heart of San Francisco's defense," wrote Benjamin. "The guy's been both durable (zero missed games in three years) and attracted to the ball (367 career tackles), giving the 49ers a rangy and reliable centerpiece on his side of the ball."
San Francisco made Warner a third-round draft pick out of BYU in 2018, and the linebacker is due a big contract extension. Last season, he racked up a team-leading 125 tackles to go with his five tackles for a loss, seven quarterback hits, one sack, two interceptions, six passes defensed, and one forced fumble last season on his way to earning his first Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors.
"Fred's a guy that I plan on being here forever, and who has earned [a contract extension],"
head coach Kyle Shanahan said this week. "And I'd be surprised if that doesn't start sooner than later."
Make your way further up the list to find pass rusher
Nick Bosa, who missed most of last season after suffering a torn ACL in Week 2.
"
Chase Young may be the talk of the young pass rushers, but Bosa was an absolute man during his own Defensive Rookie of the Year campaign," wrote Benjamin. "As a first-year starter, he had 9.0 sacks to Young's 7.5, 16 tackles for loss to Young's 10, and 25 QB hits to Young's 12. Both are elite, but Bosa, even coming off a lost year, will scare opponents. Look out for a T.J. Watt-esque ascension."
Bosa is not participating in organized team activities this week. He continues to rehab in Florida and will rejoin his teammates later in the offseason.
"I just didn't want to take him off his routine right now," Shanahan told reporters. "I totally agree with him (being) out there. He's going to show up at some time during this but he won't be going out there, doing anything coming off the ACL, but we fully expect him to be ready for training camp."
One player excited for Bosa's return to the football field is All-Pro tight end
George Kittle.
"I think I've said this about 100 times; I still think Nick Bosa is like the second-best NFL player behind Aaron Donald, and I think he's going to come back with a vengeance,"
Kittle recently shared. "And I'm very excited about that because he's a very talented football player, and he definitely makes that defense gear up a whole extra notch."
Falling under the "Maybe next year" category on the top 25 list is 49ers wide receiver
Brandon Aiyuk, who turned 23 years old in March.
ESPN analyst Matt Miller understands the perspective of San Francisco 49ers fans. After all, he has been a fan of the team since he was a kid. Seeing any of your favorite players leave and put on another uniform is tough.
It's also difficult to pay everyone, and Miller knows that. It's not a formula for successful roster building, including paying two wide receivers top dollar.
The 49ers are trying to negotiate a contract extension with wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. The team invested heavily in another receiver, Deebo Samuel, just two years ago. Is allowing each of them to consume a significant chunk of the salary cap feasible for a team that hopes to continue being competitive and win Super Bowls?
"I have to separate the fan part of my brain, who
Despite initial reports, two draft prospects who were set to visit the San Francisco 49ers ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft ultimately did not meet with the team. Matt Barrows of The Athletic revealed that former USC wide receiver Brenden Rice and former Oregon safety Jamal Hill didn't end up visiting the Bay Area organization.
Barrows wrote, "Meanwhile, a report in March indicated that USC receiver Brenden Rice, the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Jerry Rice, would visit the 49ers, but he didn't end up coming, according to two league sources."
Justin Melo of The Draft Network first
The San Francisco 49ers are holding their local pro day today at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara. The team has released the full roster of participants.
An NFL local pro day is an event hosted by teams to allow prospects with ties to the local area to showcase their skills in front of team personnel. These prospects typically hail from nearby colleges or have some other connection to the region where the team is based. Head coach Kyle Shanahan, general manager John Lynch, and a contingent of coaches, executives, and scouts will be on hand to evaluate prospective draftees during the 49ers' local pro day.
The event aims to give the team a closer look at these local talents who may have received less attention during the regular scouting process. It will allow the
The San Francisco 49ers are likely hoping that a top offensive lineman drops to them at No. 31 in the first round of this month's draft. Fans would like to see the team add someone to compete with Colton McKivitz for the right tackle spot and potentially take over for Trent Williams when the future Hall of Famer decides to retire.
Having two studs bookending the offensive line would go a long way in protecting franchise quarterback Brock Purdy. While tackle may be the first-round target, depending on how the first 30 selections play out, San Francisco might have to trade up to get a genuinely impactful
