As the Super Bowl approaches, mock drafts are in full swing, captivating fans of the 30 teams no longer in contention. The Athletic's Nick Baumgardner and Scott Dochterman recently released their latest mock draft, predicting that the San Francisco 49ers will focus on bolstering their offensive line.
After finishing the season with a disappointing 6-11 record, the 49ers hold the 11th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, which is still three months away. Baumgardner and Dochterman project that general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan will use their first-round selection on Ohio State offensive tackle Josh Simmons, a talented prospect capable of anchoring the line for years to come.
Simmons is the third offensive lineman selected in this mock draft, following LSU tackle Will Campbell (No. 5, Jacksonville Jaguars) and Texas tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. (No. 10, Chicago Bears).
"Like Banks, Simmons is a super-athletic prospect who probably could wear a few different hats if a team asks him to," Baumgardner and Dochterman wrote. "He suffered a season-ending knee injury midway through the season, and it took Ohio State a while to figure out how to play without him. He would be a perfect fit for everything Kyle Shanahan does."
Despite his injury-shortened 2024 season, Simmons did enough to establish himself as a first-round prospect. He earned an 82.0 pass-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus while playing 306 snaps, 158 of which were in pass protection. During that span, he allowed only one pressure and zero sacks, finishing the year with a career-high 74.4 overall grade.
Simmons suffered a knee injury in October, but his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, assured in December, "Josh will be fully cleared for practice by the start of NFL training camp, and he will be a high-first-round pick."
With future Hall of Fame left tackle Trent Williams set to return in 2025, Simmons could compete with Colton McKivitz for the starting right tackle spot. Alternatively, the 49ers might take a gradual approach, allowing Simmons to further develop before integrating him into the lineup.
Although Simmons has played exclusively at left tackle for the Buckeyes over the past two seasons, he also has experience on the right side, having played there extensively during his time at San Diego State in 2022. This versatility could make him an ideal fit for Shanahan's offensive system.
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