"Which would be better?" Draft

Been hearing a bunch of fans trying to discuss which is more important to fix, offense or defense, this draft. To do that, generated two different drafts and honed in on these foci (though couldn't do fully one side or not, wasn't truly realistic).

So now, I'll leave to the WZ to decide which would be best:

Option #1: Offense-centric Draft

No trades

R1: Armand Membou, OT (Mizzou)

Immediately fights for RT starter, eventually shift to LT after Trent's retirement. Built athlete for zone blocking scheme, go watch him vs UGA in '23 and vs South Carolina in '24, and see him handling top defensive players in this year's draft.

R2: Donovan Jackson, OG (Ohio State)

Immediate starter at LG for next 10+ years, and will solidify protection for Purdy after holding his own against multiple top DL draftees from this year.

R3: Harold Fannin Jr., TE/WR (Bowling Green)

Not drafting as TE, drafting as offensive weapon. Kyle gets a fun toy who can create nightmare line ups in the slot. With Fickell being the blocking TE, no need to worry about getting a more balanced TE and just make him a weapon for Purdy.

R3 (comp): Kyle Kennard, DE (South Carolina)

Gives Bosa a pass rushing running mate on 3rd down.

R4: Tez Johnson, WR (Oregon)

Another weapon, yes he's small but brings toughness, great route running, and speed.

R4: Damien Martinez, RB (Miami)

Balanced back to compete against Guerrendo and Taylor for carries.

R4 (comp): CJ West, DL (Indiana)

3-tech depth

R5: Jamaree Caldwell, DL (Oregon)

Shoutout to Locked on 49ers for sharing with me who this is (not a big Oregon Fan since I went to UW), but is a big DL to rotate at the 1 for space eating NT to rotate with Evan Anderson. Need a DJ Jones type, hopefully one of them becomes like DJ.

R7: Jamon Dumas-Johnson, LB (UK)
R7: Jaylin Lane, WR (VT)
R7: Mello Dotson, CB (Kansas)

Depth pieces for ST, but like Lane to potentially battle with Cowing in future.

Summary: Immediately fix many of the holes in offense, and set to keep the Purdy investment upright and slinging the ball…especially needing to get the points up for ho-hum defensive play.

Option #2: Defense-centric Draft

Trades (3):

1/11 for 1/14, 2/45 (Indy)
1/14 for 1/15, 2/46, 4/118, and 3rd in 2026 (ATL)
2/43, 4/118, R2 in 2026 for 1/24 (MIN, trade up)

R1: Will Johnson, CB (Michigan)

Top pure CB in draft, dealt with injuries in 2024 but is one of the top defensive players in draft when healthy. Gives Saleh his Sauce for this defense.

R1: Walter Nolen, DT (Ole Miss)

Need DT help, and this guy is a beast. Immediate starting upgrade from last year, Kourek will get him to Pro Bowl level ASAP.

R2: JT Tuimoloau, DE (Ohio State)

Super versatile, best against the run, need to fix that 29th ranked rush defense.

R2: Xavier Watts, S (Notre Dame)

Ball-hawking safety we desperately need. Got a lot of thumpers on the roster, need someone who can catch the ball on defense, and he fits the bill.

R3: TJ Sanders, DT (South Carolina)

My draft crush of 2025, the perfect 3-tech for this style of defense, can play the run but has multiple pass rushing running moves to beat multiple OL positions, and is aggressive to get to the ball. Perfect Saleh style player and will get those stats next to Nolen.

R3 (comp): Demetrius Knight, LB (South Carolina)

Challenges Winters and Bethune for starting LB next to Warner. Very athletic, great against the run, and can play coverage, but need to learn from Warner to take that next step.

R4: Anthony Belton, OT (NC State)

Swing tackle with talent to take over a starting role, but can learn from Trent.

R4: Jackson Slater, OG/C, (Sac State)

Shout-out to Brad TheSFNiners, who showed me how good this guy can be. Potential starter at LG in future to replace Bartch.

R4: Jamaree Caldwell, DL (Oregon)

Shoutout to Locked on 49ers for sharing with me who this is (not a big Oregon Fan since I went to UW), but is a big DL to rotate at the 1 for space eating NT to rotate with Evan Anderson. Need a DJ Jones type, hopefully one of them becomes like DJ.

R5: David Walker, DE (Central Arkansas)

Development guy, can be a speed rusher to help on passing downs.

R7: Nick Martin, LB (Oklahoma State)
R7: Jaylin Lane, WR (VT)
R7: Jah Joyner, DE (Minnesota)

Depth pieces, hopefully can help ST at least

Summary: Fix the defense for years to come, and helps keep Saleh happy. We still draft OL, but since Shanny loves McKivitz, Brendel, and the depth we've developed with Bartch, Nugent, and Hennessey, get guys for more development.

Please share your thoughts! Let's go NINERS!!!

So you have us trading down one spot and picking up a 2nd in each but then moving up in the 1st 20 spots and only giving up two 4ths??

yeah, not happening.

And the first one you only address the DTs with West and Caldwell? Hard pass

Originally posted by Sask49erFan:
So you have us trading down one spot and picking up a 2nd in each but then moving up in the 1st 20 spots and only giving up two 4ths??

yeah, not happening.

And the first one you only address the DTs with West and Caldwell? Hard pass

Thanks Sask49erFan for the feedback!

Apologies, I didn't dive into the trades b/c I was worried the post was too long already.

I used the NFL Mock Draft Database simulator for these two, and for the trades, here's the explanations:

For the first trade back, Tyler Warren was picked in the Top 10 and Indy wanted to pick Loveland, and with 4 other teams trying to trade up as well got the higher capital return.

For the second trade back, ATL really wanted Jalon Walker, and with Pitt offering a big haul as well they overspent.

Lastly, for the trade up for Nolen that was a typo on my part, was actually a future 2nd, my bad, and will update.

For the Offensive-centric draft, my mindset was Shanny wanted to completely fix the offense and felt rotational depth on the DL and the existing depth to fill in the other open starting roles, paired with Saleh's coaching, would get them back to top 15. Do I agree? Not really, but was part of the exercise.

Originally posted by Crazy49er1313:
Thanks Sask49erFan for the feedback!

Apologies, I didn't dive into the trades b/c I was worried the post was too long already.

I used the NFL Mock Draft Database simulator for these two, and for the trades, here's the explanations:

For the first trade back, Tyler Warren was picked in the Top 10 and Indy wanted to pick Loveland, and with 4 other teams trying to trade up as well got the higher capital return.

For the second trade back, ATL really wanted Jalon Walker, and with Pitt offering a big haul as well they overspent.

Lastly, for the trade up for Nolen that was a typo on my part, was actually a future 2nd, my bad, and will update.

For the Offensive-centric draft, my mindset was Shanny wanted to completely fix the offense and felt rotational depth on the DL and the existing depth to fill in the other open starting roles, paired with Saleh's coaching, would get them back to top 15. Do I agree? Not really, but was part of the exercise.

I mean of somehow this happened and we needed up with this haul it would be an absolute home run.

I don't think it's remotely possible but that would give us 6 starters on D.

R1: Will Johnson, CB (Michigan)
R1: Walter Nolen, DT (Ole Miss)
R2: JT Tuimoloau, DE (Ohio State)
R2: Xavier Watts, S (Notre Dame)
R3: TJ Sanders, DT (South Carolina)
R3 (comp): Demetrius Knight, LB (South Carolina)
R4: Anthony Belton, OT (NC State)
R4: Jackson Slater, OG/C, (Sac State)
R4: Jamaree Caldwell, DL (Oregon)
R5: David Walker, DE (Central Arkansas)