49ers Draft Strategy 2025

If OT Will Campbell and OT Armand Membou get picked before our pick #11 look for us to most likely trade back later in the 1st to acquire more picks in the 2nd and 3rd rounds and beyond. This is a deep draft at multiple positions where good players will be selected on Day 2 and Day 3 who will be just as good or better than their Day 1 counterparts. We have lots of needs to address throughout the roster so this will be the best way to fill most of them.

Best Fits Later in Round 1 (After Trade or Trades Back)

Will Johnson CB Michigan
Derrick Harmon DT Oregon
Josh Conerly Jr. OT Oregon
Josh Simmons OT Ohio St.
Walter Nolen DT Mississippi
Kenneth Grant DT Michigan
Shemar Stewart Edge Texas A&M
Trey Amos CB Mississippi
Donovan Ezeiruaku Edge Boston College
Malaki Starks S Georgia

Needs:

QB - Developmental QB to compete against Mordecai
RB - Another speed zone back who can catch would be ideal. Good ones can be found in later rounds
WR (2) - One with speed and return ability and one who is a Red Zone threat who blocks
TE - Young TE who can catch and block and scare safeties over the top
OL (3) - Need a Tackle, Guard, and Center who can come in and compete early
DL (3) - At least one Edge and multiple DTs, Saleh and Kocurek like versatile lineman who can back up the starters. Look for tweeners in the later rounds
LB - Young coverage back in the Greenlaw mold who can run and hit and close like a heat seaking missile
DB (2-3) - More speed is needed in secondary. A fast free safety and a top notch boundary corner would be ideal
PK - If you watched our kicking game the last few years this needs no explanation. This is the NFL and field goal kicks inside 40 yards should be automatic

A TE that can catch, block and scare safeties is a unicorn. Kittle is probably the only one in the league.

You've also listed more needs than picks, and that's assuming we're going to hit each pick. What are your priorities?

True. TE who can catch and block are unicorns in a pass happy NFL. However, Kittle had little receiving production when he was at Iowa. He was known more for his blocking. Which is why he was a 5th Rounder. 49ers scouts though did see glimpses of a potentially good receiver when Kittle did catch the ball. 49ers seem high on Jalin Conyers from Texas Tech. He may be the choice in the middle rounds. Other good fits would be Jackson Hawes from Georgia Tech or Joshua Simon from South Carolina.

My priority would to rebuild the lines in the early rounds and add to the skill positions in the mid and to late rounds.