The San Francisco 49ers could go in several directions with their first-round pick due to a roster hit hard by offseason departures. Analysts and experts continue to speculate on what general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan will do with their first of 11 selections—No. 11 overall. Will they fortify a thin defensive line or reinforce the protection in front of quarterback Brock Purdy, who's set to become the highest-paid player in franchise history?
Or, the 49ers may go in an entirely different direction, making these mock draft projections even more intriguing. But one common thread runs through five recent mocks—they all have San Francisco going defense in the first round.
Barrows predicts all 11 picks
Matt Barrows of The Athletic attempted to predict all 11 of the 49ers' selections. He has the team addressing the pass rush early by selecting Georgia defensive end Mykel Williams at No. 11.
"San Francisco, which has been searching for Nick Bosa's bookend since the end of the 2019 season, finds one in the sturdy, long-armed Williams," Barrows wrote. "No, his 2024 numbers — five sacks last season — don't scream early first-round pick. But keep in mind that he played with a high ankle sprain for most of 2024, sat out two and a half games and was part of a defensive front that heavily rotated its players. Williams also is still two months shy of his 21st birthday. His best is yet to come."
Here are the rest of Barrows' projected picks, which include another defensive lineman in the second round:
Round 2, Pick 43: DT Tyleik Williams, Ohio State
Round 3, Pick 75: OT Anthony Belton, North Carolina State
Round 3, Pick 100: LB Chris Paul, Jr., Ole Miss
Round 4, Pick 113: DT Aeneas Peebles, Virginia Tech
Round 4, Pick 138: DL Elijah Roberts, SMU
Round 5, Pick 147: RB Bhayshul Tuten, Virginia Tech
Round 5, Pick 160: CB Cobee Bryant, Kansas
Round 7, Pick 227: TE Jackson Hawes, Georgia Tech
Round 7, Pick 249: LB Kain Medrano, UCLA
Round 7, Pick 252: WR Ricky White, UNLV
More D-line projections
Barrows isn't alone in projecting a defensive lineman at No. 11. In his latest mock for CBS Sports, Ryan Wilson has Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham falling to the 49ers, making the pick easy for Lynch and Shanahan.
"I really like Mason Graham, but I don't think he's Quinnen Williams coming out of Alabama," Wilson noted. "It's why I have him slipping a few spots and landing in San Francisco, a team that needs help up and down the roster."
Wilson's colleague, Jonathan Jones, also has the 49ers bolstering the defensive front in his latest mock draft. He has the team selecting Ole Miss defensive tackle Walter Nolen.
"Nolen's talent is undeniable, but there are several teams who wouldn't take him this high," Jones warns. "It could be a risky pick, but it fits an obvious need for San Francisco and Nolen can mature his entire game with the Niners."
Cornerback gets consideration
Not every mock sees the 49ers targeting the defensive line. In his latest projection for CBS Sports, Garrett Podell has San Francisco selecting Michigan cornerback Will Johnson at No. 11—one of the most frequently mocked players to the 49ers.
"Top cornerback Charvarius Ward signed with the Colts in free agency, so the 49ers need a legit CB1 with all the receiver talent out in the NFC West," Podell wrote. "Will Johnson, whose 31.0 passer rating when targeted was the second best in college football since 2022 (minimum 100 targets), fills a big need."
One more for the secondary
Pro Football Focus (PFF) released a joint mock draft featuring picks from 32 different contributors. Bryson Vesnaver handled the 49ers' selections and also leaned toward the secondary. With Will Johnson already off the board, Vesnaver projected Texas cornerback Jahdae Barron at No. 11.
"The versatile Barron can immediately slot in as the 49ers' starting nickel cornerback," Vesnaver wrote. "He posted the second-highest PFF coverage grade among all cornerbacks last year (91.1) and is a perfect fit for defensive coordinator Robert Saleh's zone-heavy scheme after playing more zone snaps than any other cornerback on PFF's big board in 2024 (406)."
We're just days away from discovering what the 49ers will do with their top pick. The 2025 NFL Draft kicks off Thursday, April 24, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin.