Pick 11 is a prime spot to draft an impact defensive lineman to help anchor the group alongside Nick Bosa. The team moved on from Javon Hargrave, Leonard Floyd, and Maliek Collins, making room for a new group of defensive tackles and EDGE players. Yetur Gross-Matos, Evan Anderson, Kevin Givens, and others figure to contribute as rotational pieces. Still, the draft presents an opportunity to grab a young, three-down player in the first round.
The belief in Robert Saleh’s return as defensive coordinator and Kris Kocurek’s work developing talent on the defensive line is the driving force of optimism, as the San Francisco 49ers will likely address the position multiple times in the 2025 draft.