Josh Edwards of CBS Sports released his latest mock draft, projecting that the San Francisco 49ers will target help for their pass rush after missing out on Joey Bosa in free agency. The 49ers were widely expected to be serious contenders for Nick Bosa's older brother, with the Miami Dolphins also in the mix. However, the Buffalo Bills swooped in, offering the veteran pass rusher more money and securing him for the 2025 season.
San Francisco holds the 11th overall pick in next month's draft and is expected to focus on strengthening either the defensive or offensive line. Edwards predicts general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan will select Texas A&M defensive end Shemar Stewart in the first round to bolster the pass rush after parting ways with Leonard Floyd.
"Most expected Joey Bosa would sign in San Francisco with his brother, but he chose the Bills instead," Edwards wrote. "After releasing Leonard Floyd, pass rusher is one of several needs that have materialized for this franchise."
Floyd didn't stay on the market long, signing with the Atlanta Falcons quickly after his release.
Stewart (6-5, 267) only amassed 1.5 sacks in each of his three seasons at Texas A&M, but teams may be intrigued by his upside. Over three seasons at Texas A&M, he recorded 65 tackles (12 for a loss), 4.5 sacks, four passes defensed, and a forced fumble, per Sports Reference.
Stewart's best season came in 2024, when he earned a career-high 79.5 overall defensive grade from Pro Football Focus. His 67.2 pass rush grade was solid but not elite. However, he still led Texas A&M with 39 pressures and showed significant growth in run defense, improving his run defense grade from 63.6 in 2023 to an impressive 88.2 last season.
At the NFL Scouting Combine, Stewart ran a 4.59-second 40-yard dash—one of the top four times among edge rushers in Indianapolis. His 1.58-second 10-yard split ranked third at his position, and his 40-inch vertical jump was second only to Arkansas' Landon Jackson (40.5 inches).
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