While most mock drafts predict that the San Francisco 49ers will use the 11th overall pick on an offensive or defensive lineman, the most frequently projected player isn't from either position group. According to NFL Mock Draft Database, which compiles data from many mock drafts across the web, Michigan cornerback Will Johnson is the most common first-round selection for San Francisco, appearing in nearly 13% of mocks—the highest percentage of any individual player.
Johnson has recently surged as a popular pick for the 49ers, with mock drafts from Pro Football Network, USA Today, ESPN, the Chicago Tribune, and an estimated 73 others projecting him to land in the Bay Area.
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The 49ers met with Johnson last month at the NFL Scouting Combine. Though shoulder and turf toe issues limited his 2024 season, he still appeared in six games, recording 14 tackles (one for a loss), three passes defensed, and two interceptions—both returned for touchdowns, per Sports Reference.
Offensive linemen are still popular projections
The second-most common 49ers selection in mock drafts is Texas offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr., a potential upgrade at right tackle and eventual successor to Trent Williams at left tackle. A significant 11.5% of mocks have San Francisco selecting Banks, who also met with the team at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Rounding out the top three is Ohio State offensive tackle Josh Simmons, another possible long-term replacement for Williams. Over 8% of mock drafts link Simmons to the 49ers, and like the other top prospects, he, too, met with the team at the NFL Scouting Combine.
While nearly 68% of mock drafts project the 49ers to select someone other than Johnson, Banks, or Simmons at No. 11, no individual player appears more frequently than those three. After losing several key contributors this offseason, San Francisco must capitalize on its draft picks to rebound from a disappointing six-win 2024 campaign.