The Athletic's Dane Brugler released his latest mock draft, projecting the San Francisco 49ers to address what has become an underwhelming pass rush. Brugler has general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan selecting Georgia defensive end Mykel Williams with the 11th overall pick.
San Francisco brought back Robert Saleh as defensive coordinator, hoping his return can revitalize a unit that earned a lackluster 68.1 pass rush grade from Pro Football Focus, ranking 18th in the league. Williams could provide a much-needed boost to the group.
"Although his 2024 season didn't go as planned (mostly due to a nagging ankle injury), Williams has the length and physical traits that have teams excited about his NFL future," Brugler wrote. "He is an outstanding run defender and holds a lot of promise as a pass rusher."
Williams (6-5, 260) recorded 67 tackles, 14 sacks, four passes defensed, and three forced fumbles in three seasons with the Bulldogs. Five of those sacks came in 2024, and he registered 26 pressures in each of the past two seasons, earning a Pro Football Focus defensive grade of at least 78.4 in both years.
The 49ers struggled against the run last season, ranking 28th with a 48.8 run-defense grade from Pro Football Focus. Williams could provide an immediate boost, having earned an 82.9 run-defense grade in 2024 and an 80.3 in 2023.
"An upside prospect with loads of traits, Williams simply needs more snaps and more time to fill out his frame," NFL Media analyst Lance Zierlein wrote in his draft profile. "He is an explosive athlete who uses his exceptional length to keep tackles and tight ends at the end of his punch. He plays a little too tall at the point and needs to get stronger to shed blocks more quickly, but he plays with good physicality in the trenches and is never pushed around.
"He's still learning moves and counters but already has a big bull rush, good secondary effort and the closing burst to become a sack blanket in the pocket. He's not there yet, but Williams' improvement to become an impactful 4-3 base end feels inevitable."