The early returns on the San Francisco 49ers' 2025 NFL Draft class are mixed—and according to one analyst, largely underwhelming.
Cornerback Upton Stout emerged as the clear standout among the 49ers' rookies. One of San Francisco's third-round selections, Stout logged 593 defensive snaps in 2025, playing 58 percent of the team's defensive plays, according to Pro Football Reference.
He also earned a 62.0 overall grade from Pro Football Focus (PFF), the highest mark among 49ers rookies—excluding running back Jordan James, who played just three offensive snaps.
With the 2025 NFL season complete, CBS Sports draft writer Josh Edwards graded every team's most recent draft class. The 49ers received a C, with only nine NFL teams earning lower marks.
Upton Stout stands out for the 49ers
Understandably, Edwards chose Stout as San Francisco's top rookie.
"San Francisco had six rookies play at least 300 snaps on their respective side of the ball," Edwards wrote. "Aside from Stout, none of them were particularly effective. Stout emerged as a personal favorite to watch because, at 5-foot-9, he plays much bigger than his size. The 49ers have done as well as any other team identifying defensive backs on Day 3; safety Malik Mustapha and cornerback Deommodore Lenoir serving as other recent examples."
The five other rookies who played more than 300 snaps in 2025: offensive lineman Connor Colby, defensive linemen Alfred Collins and CJ West, safety Marques Sigle, and first-round draft pick Mykel Williams.
"Unfortunately, first-round pick Mykel Williams suffered a torn ACL in Week 9 against the Giants," Edwards noted.
Defensive line struggles highlight concerns
PFF gave the 49ers defense a 62.9 pass-rush grade, which tied for 27th in the NFL, and 39.9 run-defense grade, ranking last.
While Stout was the standout among the team's rookie class, Collins and West struggled, according to the analytics site. Both defensive linemen earned a 35.0 overall defensive grade from PFF—the lowest on the team. Despite entering the NFL with strong run-defense résumés, Collins (28.5) and West (27.9) posted the 49ers' lowest run-defense grades during their first NFL seasons.
West recently acknowledged the need for significant improvement heading into his second NFL season.
"Year two, I need to have one of the biggest jumps I've had in my football career," West said last week. "Just really bringing my game to the next level. Being more dominant in the pass rush, dominating the run even more than I did, affecting the quarterback in different ways, pushing the pocket in his face."
Too early to judge the 49ers' draft class?
While the grades are not flattering, evaluating an entire 49ers draft class after one season can be premature. Injuries across the roster forced several rookies into larger roles than originally anticipated.
Year two will likely provide a clearer picture of whether San Francisco's 2025 NFL Draft class can develop into a foundational group or if the early criticisms prove justified.
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