NFL.com identifies area of improvement for surprise 49ers rookie

Kevin Patra of NFL.com recently spotlighted one overlooked or surprising contributor from each NFC team. For the San Francisco 49ers, that player was rookie offensive lineman Dominick Puni, the surprising third-round draft pick who started all 17 games during the 2024 season.

Puni emerged as a bright spot in an otherwise disappointing and injury-riddled 6-11 campaign that saw the 49ers miss the playoffs for the first time since 2020.

"A lot went wrong for San Francisco in 2024, but the 49ers nailed their third-round pick," Patra wrote. "Puni was everything the Niners could've hoped for when selecting him 86th overall. A Day 1 starter, Puni fit Kyle Shanahan's offense to a T. As a rookie, he finished as one of the better run-blocking guards in the entire NFL, blowing away other first-year OGs in that regard."

However, Patra also noted an area where Puni needs improvement: pass protection. While Pro Football Focus awarded Puni an impressive 81.5 run-blocking grade—the highest among all rookie offensive linemen—his 68.9 pass-blocking grade revealed room for growth. Despite this, it still ranked third among first-year offensive linemen.

Puni finished the season allowing 35 pressures and three sacks, with all three sacks occurring since Week 12. This could underscore the challenges of transitioning from the college game to the rigors of the NFL level.

In his final four games, Puni received a pass-blocking grade of 65.9 or lower in three contests, including a season-low 44.7 in Week 15 against the Los Angeles Rams, when he allowed two sacks.

"He missed some blocks in pass pro, particularly down the stretch, but did enough early in the season to prove he's a building block in the middle of Shanny's offense," Patra added.