ESPN's Matt Miller and Jordan Reid reviewed the 2025 NFL Draft round-by-round, highlighting their best value selections for each round. Miller chose new Cleveland Browns running back Dylan Sampson for Round 4, while Reid selected San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle CJ West, whom the team drafted with the 113th overall pick.
"The 49ers continued to overhaul the defensive trenches on Day 3, adding West to first-round pick Mykel Williams and second-rounder Alfred Collins," Reid wrote. "West is a quick-footed pass rusher and firm run defender who was ranked No. 76 on my board."
West (6-1, 316) transferred from Kent State to Indiana for his final collegiate season. Over the past two years, he recorded 40 tackles and two sacks in each campaign. In 2024, he added eight tackles for loss, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and a pass defensed.
"CJ, I think ... extremely stout, sturdy, but also has the quickness and strength to play in the other team's backfield," general manager John Lynch said on Saturday. "Makes a lot of splash plays in the other team's backfield. I had the chance to watch him live this year when we went back to Ohio State. Indiana was there and made an impression in that game.
"But more so, his film, his body of work has really stood out and we just felt like was a really good fit. Another add to the D-line we're building."
Defensive line coach Kris Kocurek compared West to former 49ers defensive tackle D.J. Jones in evaluating the young prospect.
"I think there are a lot of similarities and that's a good thing for us," Lynch added.
West earned a career-high 88.1 run-defense grade last season from Pro Football Focus and an overall defensive grade of 83.6. Impressively, he has posted an overall grade of 80.1 or higher in each of the past three seasons, playing primarily on the interior of the defensive front.