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With 2025 NFL training camps on the horizon, we’re starting to understand how 2025 NFL draft classes will impact each roster this season.
Let's look at the San Francisco 49ers, breaking down the most likely instant-impact rookies from each class, while also providing some insight into why certain early picks may not see the field.
Who are the San Francisco 49ers rookies?
- Mykel Williams (EDGE, Georgia)
- Alfred Collins (DL, Texas)
- Nick Martin (LB, Oklahoma State)
- Upton Stout (CB, Western Kentucky)
- CJ West (DL, Indiana)
- Jordan Watkins (WR, Ole Miss)
- Jordan James (RB, Oregon)
- Marques Sigle (S, Kansas State)
- Kurtis Rourke (QB, Indiana)
- Connor Colby (OG, Iowa)
- Junior Bergen (WR, Montana)
San Francisco 49ers Draft Class Grade:
The San Francisco 49ers received a C+ draft grade from Sharp Football.
Which 49ers Rookies Will Make An Impact?
The 49ers needed to overhaul the defensive line and took a step in the right direction with the selection of Mykel Williams (first round).
Williams was often criticized during the pre-draft process for a lack of production at Georgia, but the context of his role in the Bulldogs' defense was frequently missing from that conversation.
Over the last two seasons, Williams lined up from the four-tech spot or further inside 45% of the time as a pass-rusher, a role which will naturally diminish pass rush production. But when lined up as a five-tech or wider, he generated a strong 13.5% pressure rate.
In San Francisco, Williams will see significantly more action on the edge and should regularly line up in a wide-nine position, which Robert Saleh uses frequently.
Due to that shift in his role, expect Williams’ pass rush stats to improve in the NFL.
Alfred Collins (second round) primarily lined up as a three-tech and Texas and was a dominant run defender in that role.
Due to his size and lack of athleticism, however, Collins is a better fit at nose tackle and likely sees more action on early downs to take advantage of his production against the run while getting a better athlete on the field in passing situations.
Collins ranked 26th out of 45 SEC interior linemen in pressure rate last year (4.4%).
Expect Collins to compete for playing time immediately, and he should be a starter by 2026 at the latest as Jordan Elliott and Kevin Givens are playing on expiring contracts.
CJ West (fourth round) also has a chance to compete for a job on the interior defensive line.
West is a better athlete than Collins, but he never put it all together to make a consistent impact as a pass rusher and has just one year of experience against top competition after transferring to Indiana from Kent State.
Despite his athletic traits, West only generated a 6.5% pressure rate in 2024, ranked 14th among Big Ten interior linemen.
The 49ers need someone to replace Dre Greenlaw, and Nick Martin (third round) immediately becomes the favorite to win that job.
There are obvious comparisons to be made between Martin (5-foot-11, 220 pounds) and Greenlaw (6-foot, 230 pounds).
Given their similar size and elite range, the 49ers clearly think Martin can step right into that role. However, he is coming off a season-ending knee injury and never made the same impact in coverage that he had against the run.
Upton Stout (third round) will compete for the starting nickel corner job and is probably the favorite to win that spot, assuming Deommodore Lenoir earns a starting role on the outside.
Stout is just 5-foot-8, but he is pound-for-pound one of the most physical players in this draft class. His 3.5% broken or missed tackle rate in 2024 demonstrates his ability to punch above his weight.
Jordan Watkins (fourth round) is a prototypical Kyle Shanahan receiver due to his ability to produce after the catch.
Based on route adjusted data, Watkins gained 21% more yards after the catch than expected last season at Ole Miss.
Shanahan loves to get the ball in the hands of his best YAC weapons, so Watkins should compete for some of Deebo Samuel’s vacated targets immediately.
Joining Watkins in the receiver room will be Junior Bergen (seventh round), though Bergen is likely to see most of his action returning kicks and/or punts.
49ers special teams coordinator Brant Boyer wanted the team to draft Bergen 一 Boyer’s son played with Bergen at Montana 一 so there’s a good chance he wins that return specialist job.
Lynch made his Jordan James (fifth round) his annual running back selection 一 he’s drafted five in the last five years.
Given Christian McCaffrey’s injury history, it makes sense for San Francisco to invest heavily in its backup ball carriers.
James is a physical runner for his size but lacks the open-field athletic traits to be a weapon in the passing game, so don’t expect him to approach McCaffrey’s level of impact if forced into a larger role.
Marques Sigle (fifth round) was an odd selection after the team had already drafted Stout to play nickel corner.
Sigle almost exclusively played in that role for Kansas State, but will likely be asked to demonstrate more versatility in San Francisco.
There’s a chance Sigle could compete for a starting job immediately due to an injury to safety Malik Mustapha that is expected to cause him to miss the start of the season. Mustapha primarily lined up at free safety last year, a role Sigle has never played.
Kurtis Rourke (seventh round) will be San Francisco’s latest developmental quarterback project.
Rourke is a capable pocket passer with a good arm, but he struggled when faced with pressure from Indiana’s top opponents last season.
Rourke will likely be the third-string quarterback behind Brock Purdy and Mac Jones.
Connor Colby (seventh round) played in a similar zone-blocking scheme to the 49ers at Iowa, which likely enhanced the team’s trust that he could step in and serve as a backup interior lineman.
Colby started at tackle and guard for Iowa, and that versatility should allow him to earn a reserve role.
San Francisco was desperate for defensive help, and each of the team's first four picks should at least compete for a starting role immediately.
There were some curious selections along the way, which there usually are with Lynch, but an 11-man class makes it easier to justify taking some chances.
This analysis continues in the 2025 Football Preview
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