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The San Francisco 49ers face several areas for improvement following a disappointing 6-11 season. While injuries significantly impacted their 2024 campaign, they also exposed depth issues the team struggled to overcome.
The 49ers can address these challenges through free agency and the NFL Draft. Holding the 11th overall pick—higher than the team's leadership would have preferred—they have a prime chance to land an instant impact player.
In his latest mock draft, ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid projects the 49ers selecting Shemar Stewart, a defensive lineman from Texas A&M, in the first round to bolster their defensive front.
"The 49ers have to replenish their defensive line, which has been the driving force for much of their success during the Kyle Shanahan/John Lynch era," Reid explained. "Stewart is a toolsy defensive lineman who is likely to see his stock skyrocket at pre-draft events because of his athletic skills and 6-foot-6, 290-pound frame."
Through three seasons with the Aggies, Stewart has recorded 65 tackles (12 for a loss), 4.5 sacks, four passes defensed, and one forced fumble. In 2024, he earned a career-best 79.4 defensive grade from Pro Football Focus and an impressive 88.9 run-defense grade. He also ranked second on the team with 33 pressures during the season.
"He has been more potential than production to date, as he's never had more than 1.5 sacks in a season," Reid continued. "But Stewart's 2.42-second average time to first pressure is the best among all defensive linemen in the FBS, which shows that he just needs to learn how to finish his pressures with sacks."
The addition of Stewart could give the 49ers' defensive front the infusion of talent it needs to return to form and help the team rebound from a disappointing 2024 season.
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