The San Francisco 49ers are currently projected to hold the 15th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Struggling to a 6-8 record, the injury-plagued team has several directions to consider with its first-round selection. In his latest mock draft, CBS Sports' Josh Edwards suggests the 49ers will strengthen their defensive front by adding some pass-rushing help.
The 49ers last used their top pick on a defensive lineman in 2022, selecting USC's Drake Jackson in the second round. Unfortunately, that decision hasn't panned out as hoped. Jackson has appeared in only 23 games over three seasons, missing all of 2024 due to injuries.
Edwards predicts the 49ers will select Nic Scourton, a defensive end out of Texas A&M.
"The 49ers have consistently developed edge rushers opposite Nick Bosa until recently and now they have been hard-pressed to find a stable complement," Edwards explained. "Nic Scourton is a powerful rusher who should squeeze the pocket."
CBS Sports ranks Scourton as the 16th-best prospect in the draft and the fourth-best at his position. Over the past two seasons, he has tallied 15 sacks, including a career-high 10 in 2023 while playing for Purdue.
This year, Scourton posted 37 tackles, including 14 for loss, and led the Aggies with 34 pressures, per Pro Football Focus.
Edwards believes adding a talent like Scourton could provide the 49ers with the complementary edge presence they've long sought, adding to a rotation that already includes Leonard Floyd and Yetur Gross-Matos.