NFL Media analyst Charles Davis has released his first mock draft of the year, projecting all 32 first-round selections. His predictions feature a surprising start, with quarterbacks Shedeur Sanders, Cam Ward, and Jaxson Dart coming off the board with the first three picks.
The top of the draft remains unpredictable, even with the NFL Scouting Combine in the books. Pro days are still ahead, and next week's start of free agency could significantly reshape team needs and draft strategies.
As for the San Francisco 49ers, Davis projects general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan to bolster a key area of need—the pass rush. He has the team selecting Marshall defensive end Mike Green with the 11th overall pick.
"Big production at Marshall combined with excellent work during Senior Bowl practices lands Green with the Niners, who welcome back Robert Saleh as their DC," Davis wrote.
Green (6-3, 251) dominated in 2024, recording 84 tackles (23 for a loss), a career-high 17 sacks, two passes defensed, and three forced fumbles in 13 games, per Sports Reference. Over his collegiate career, he amassed 131 tackles (33 for a loss), 22.5 sacks, two passes defensed, and four forced fumbles.
His performance last season earned him a 92.4 defensive grade from Pro Football Focus—the highest among all FBS defenders. He also posted a 90.2 run-defense grade, ranking second among edge rushers, while his 91.4 pass-rush grade tied for sixth.
Green began his college career at Virginia in 2021 before transferring to Marshall. At last week's NFL Scouting Combine, he openly addressed allegations of sexual assault that surfaced during his time at Virginia—accusations he strongly denies.
"There's accusations out there. I've never been questioned," Green said, per The Athletic. "I've never been asked. Nobody ever asked me a question about what happened before I departed from Virginia. It was just accusations that caused me to leave."
Green emphasized, "Once again, I've done nothing wrong."