How the 49ers Struck Gold with Their Rookie Defensive Line Trio
During the offseason, the 49ers made it clear with their decisions that their number-one priority was fortifying their defensive line and revitalizing the unit into one of the best in the NFL again. The return of former defensive coordinator Robert Saleh was the first major step in making this happen. However, their next step, the 2025 NFL Draft, needed to play out perfectly. Entering the draft, San Francisco needed to install a new foundation of youth with Saleh building his ideal defensive personnel once again in his second stint with the organization. The main focus in the draft became addressing the team’s declining run defense, and they did early and often.
To begin the draft, the 49ers were on the clock with the 11th overall pick in the first round, selecting Georgia pass rusher Mykel Williams. Williams was the most important and the first of many defensive selections by the 49ers, which established San Francisco’s philosophy as the process ensued. As the draft continued, defensive prospects were flying off the board for the 49ers, including two other defensive line prospects in Texas defensive tackle Alfred Collins and Indiana nose tackle CJ West. San Francisco made it their mission to draft defensive linemen who all possessed elite run-defending traits.
Now fast-forwarding to the preparation for next season, these three rookie defensive lineman have looked promising. Williams and West have been standouts through the beginning of training camp while Collins continues to progress after being absent during the majority of the offseason due to ongoing contract negotiations. Particularly, Williams has dominated on several reps, including a huge win against second-year guard Dominick Puni, and great effort in the run game against Trent Williams. In addition, Williams has shadowed Nick Bosa during drills throughout all of training camp. It seems to be paying off as Williams is quickly developing his pass-rush arsenal. Bosa is one of the NFL’s best pass rushers, so learning from him can only indicate positive signs for Williams’ future impact.
West has become a name to watch in the past few days as well. His violent hands and strength have been on full display as he’s dominated most of his reps during this week of one-on-one drills. The daily news out of 49ers camp has remained positive for these defensive rookies in their first offseason training camp in the NFL. As we inch closer to seeing this trio of rookies in competitive game action, their growth only emphasizes how much potential San Francisco’s young core has in its beginning stages.
