Time To Meet The New 49ers
The 2025 off-season was a major overhaul for the 49ers with plenty of new faces coming in, mostly through the draft. Breaking down everyone's strengths & weaknesses and their ideal roles.
The 2025 San Francisco 49ers are in the midst of a major roster overhaul, with plenty of familiar faces heading out the door, and just as many new ones coming in. The difficult separation from a handful of franchise stalwarts such as Deebo Samuel, Dre Greenlaw, and Talanoa Hufanga has opened up multiple roster spots and sizable roles that need to be filled. Armed with 11 draft picks and a couple shrewd free agent signings San Francisco has undergone an infusion of young talent to an aging roster over the past few months.
Draft Picks
1.11 - Mykel Williams (EDGE) Georgia
Mykel Williams, the main attraction of the 49ers 2025 class, is a former 4-Star recruit from Georgia. He was an instant contributor for the Bulldogs and started 17 games over 3 years, receiving All-SEC honors in each season. The overall stats are not eye popping, but Williams was consistent and reliable defender in all three seasons, finishing with 25 pressures and 5 sacks in each campaign.
The addition of Williams at Pick #11 was the start of a very clear message from the front office that they would not be bullied by teams rushing attacks like last year. The 49ers defense has ranked outside the Top-20 in Rush EPA allowed each of the past two seasons, which has greatly reduced the impact the unit enjoyed in comparison to its heyday. Williams is a long, powerful DE who has been one of the best run defenders in college football over the past few years. He was a versatile player in college at Georgia - almost to a fault in terms of his individual production - aligning anywhere from the 4i to a stand up 9-Technique.
The 49ers have been missing a versatile strong side end who is able to reduce down and hold his ground when lined up inside or head up of a tight end for a while now. Williams’ power and length are the perfect combination of traits for the 6T role in new (and old) DC Robert Saleh’s defense. He is both able to set a strong edge as the outermost defender and hold up versus double teams on the inside. This should allow the 49ers undersized and speedy linebackers to stay clean and chase the ball, something they were not able to do as frequently the past couple of seasons.
While the main focus of the Williams addition is his run defense, you don’t take a pure run defender at #11 overall. He is still a raw pass rusher, but is only 20 years old and possesses the burst and length to continue to grow in that aspect of his game. Williams will likely bring most of his value on early downs to start his career, but a 49ers coaching staff with a history of developing defensive linemen’s pass rush arsenals over the years, has plenty to work with.
Full Mykel Williams Scouting Report
2.43 - Alfred Collins (IDL) Texas
Alfred Collins, the 49ers second selection, is an ever bigger and better run defender that Williams. The former 4-Star from Texas will be tasked with manning the 2i spot from the image above, and likely will be doing so as a starter. Collins singular sack in 2024 might not be the most impressive, but San Francisco didn’t bring in Big Al to do much more than push the pocket. The 332 pound (92nd percentile) Nose Tackle is a stout run defender with long arms (34 5/8 - 90th percentile). Similar to Williams above, Collins is an archetype of defender the 49ers have sorely lacked over the past few years. A defense that typically leans of athletic interior players who get upfield quickly, lacked the size and strength to hold up in the run game. Collins has experience playing anywhere from head up nose (0T) to as far out as a 4i, with the ability to leverage his gap in a one-gap, gap and a half, or two gap scheme.
Full Alfred Collins Scouting Report
3.75 - Nick Martin (LB) Oklahoma State
The 49ers enter new territory heading into 2025 with no Dre Greenlaw flanking Fred Warner for the first time since 2019. While he missed a large portion of last year (a loss that greatly impacted the defense) this is the first year the front office has had to actively look for a long term replacement. A replacement that may just come in the form of 3rd Round pick Nick Martin.
Martin, a former 3-Star recruit, was one of the best linebackers in the country in 2023, receiving 1st Team All-Big 12 honors after finishing 7th in the FBS in tackles with 140. Projected to be one of the top linebackers in the nation heading in 2024, he unfortunately saw his senior season cut short due to his second knee injury in five years. Martin is an undersized yet explosive backer who excels in space and chasing plays horizontally. Well below average size measurables and inconsistent processing ability creates struggles as a run defender in the box, but his downhill speed and hitters mentality are exactly what Saleh and the 49ers look for at the position.
If that descriptions sounds familiar to you, it’s because its more or less the same scouting report that current projected WILL Dee Winters, the 49ers 5th Round Pick back in 2023, had coming out. Winters and Martin share a lot of similarities in terms of testing and play style, as the 49ers seem determined to keep swinging on undersized athletic backers until they get the same success they enjoyed with Greenlaw.
Winters will get every opportunity to start at WILL this season, while Martin will take a back-up/special teams role, but in the event that Winters struggles or gets hurt (something that happened quite a bit in 2024) Martin will likely get the next crack at it.
3.100 - Upton Stout (CB) Western Kentucky
The 49ers second 3rd Round Pick, Upton Stout, is another aggressive defender who excels against the run, continuing a constant theme in the draft. The former 3-Star recruit from Texas, started 34 games across 5 seasons, with his best campaign coming in 2024 as a 1st Team All-Conference Slot-CB.
It’s not hard to see why the 49ers’ coaching staff fell in love with Stout. Despite being very small, he is a feisty aggressive defender who doesn’t shy away from contact. He has the requisite athletic ability to play both man and zone coverage from the slot as well. Aside from the size, the thing that will make or break Stouts career is penalties. His aggressive play style is very grabby and results in a lot of flags (15 career penalties) and most of the time it comes from not trusting his coverage skills. In the clip below, you can see Stout is in fine position and unnecessarily drags down his mark, a frequent occurrence on his tape.
Stout is going to have to clean up this aspect of his game if he wants any chance to get on the field, as NFL referees call physical coverage even tighter than in college. In the league he will also finally be at an athletic disadvantage to go with his lack of size and cannot let his bad habits snowball.
With the departure of Charvarius Ward there is an open spot at CB in 5-DB sets, especially if the 49ers are comfortable with Lenior being a full time outside CB. It will be difficult for Stout to make inroads a rookie, but if he can prove his size doesn’t truly matter he has the mental makeup to be a functional nickel in this league.
4.113 - CJ West (IDL) Indiana
The 49ers draft of impact run defenders didn’t stop on Day-3, with arguably their best value pick coming in CJ West in the 4th Round. Similar to Collins, West is not the type of player you are going to rely on to post big sack numbers with only 4 over the past 3 seasons combined. He is another powerful and heavy (316 pounds - 77th percentile) run defender with the versatility to line up anywhere on a defensive front. West might not be as big as Collins, but he is a fair amount quicker and his ability to leverage his gap while on the move makes him the more likely candidate to man the 3T spot when he is not rotating through the 2i with Collins.
Full CJ West Scouting Report
4.138 - Jordan Watkins (WR) Ole Miss
For the second year in a row the 49ers used a Day-3 pick on an undersized speedster. Watkins, a former 3-Star recruit, is a 5th Year Senior who split time between Louisville and Ole Miss. He has his best year in 2024 with a 49 REC - 906 YDS - 9 TD stat line, with his best production coming against man coverage where he ranked Top-25 in the FBS in both Y/REC and Y/RR. Watkins is at his most impactful as a receiver stretching the field vertically. Over 30% of his targets in 2024 came 20+ yards down the field, where his 4.37 speed can do the most damage. If Watkins wants to see the field as more than a rotational player, he will have to improve his route running. Despite good testing numbers he is an overall average athlete, lacking the burst and change of direction skills to create space at the top of his routes, especially when asked to cut sharply. Better processing and feel for space as a zone route runner will help, but Watkins may just lack the tools to be anything more than a field stretcher at the next level.
The 49ers likely view Watkins value primarily coming via special teams, alongside or in a competition with Jacob Cowing and 7th Round Pick Junior Bergen. He was Ole Miss's primary punt returner in both 2022 and 2023, with 36 total returns at an 8.1 YPA clip, and has kick return experience as well.
5.147 (via WAS) - Jordan James (RB) Oregon
It wouldn’t be a San Francisco 49ers draft without snagging a RB somewhere on Day-3, and for the first time in a while it feels like the pick was warranted. Star RB Christian McCaffery struggled to stay on the field last year and isn’t getting any younger. Isaac Guerendo looked the part of an explosive change up but his slashing play style wasn’t the most consistent. With Jordan Mason departing via trade, the 49ers were in search of a dependable innings eater on the depth chart.
That’s where Jordan James comes in. The former 4-Star recruit from Oakland was the definition of dependable during his time at Oregon, with 0 career fumbles on almost 400 carries. While his 4.55 40-yard dash time won’t wow anybody, he still managed to rank Top-20 in rushing yards in college football last year. James quick feet and balance translate well to a variety of run schemes and his downhill running style is perfect for short yardage, an area San Francisco struggled in last year.
Full Jordan James Scouting Report
5.160 (via MIN) - Marques Sigles (SAF) Kansas State
Sigle, the 49ers second pick in their money round, is an experienced and versatile safety. While he is listed as a FS, Sigle primarily played Nickel CB during his 25 starts with the Wildcats, and has over 1,000 career snaps in the slot. He is a dependable and physical run defender who is at his best around the line of scrimmage where his downhill closing speed and toughness can shine. Despite a sub 4.4 40-time, Sigle doesn’t display the necessary range to play deep safety in the league. He struggles to quickly transition laterally out of his back pedal and lacks the coverage instincts to be an impact player in either zone or man coverage.
Given Sigle’s draft slot and overall profile he projects best as a stand out special teams player, a role he is familiar with having almost 400 career ST snaps in his career. However, with an open CB spot and a murky SAF depth chart (especially given Malik Mustapha’s injury) there is room for him to carve out a spot if he can translate his testing numbers to the field at a more consistent level.
7.227 - Kurtis Rourke (QB) Indiana
Kurtis Rourke doesn’t project to be much more than a camp body and back-up quarterback, but that’s not a bad thing! The former MAC OPOY with Ohio was a one year starter at Indiana and was a pivotal part of one of the best stories in college football last year. Rourke possess ideal size for the position and his experience (45 career starts) and toughness are exactly what teams look for in a back-up/injury spot starter. He won’t wow anyone with his arm talent or athleticism but he is a quick decision maker who gets the ball out on time and shows flashes up really impressive touch throws to the intermediate areas of the field.
Full Kurtis Rourke Scouting Report
7.249 - Connor Colby (OG) Iowa
Many 49ers fans were upset that once again the front office decided to put off drafting offensive line help until the 7th Round, but that doesn’t mean they didn’t add any. Colby, a former 4-Star from Iowa, is an experienced player with 50 starts to his name and reps at both guards spots as well as RT. He is not the biggest or strongest player, but Iowa’s zone heavy offense (72% zone rate in 2024) translates very well to the type of run scheme the 49ers employ. Colby is a quality athlete - 9.80 / 10.00 RAS score - with the technique and movement skills to not skip a beat if inserted into the lineup. While he may never be an impact starter due to a lack of play strength and pass protection inconsistencies, he has the run blocking ability to be a low end starter if needed.
Full Connor Colby Scouting Report
7.252 - Junior Bergen (WR) Montana
Day-3 picks are typically all about special teams value and Bergen is the epitome of that. He has eye popping return stats, averaging 24.0 YPR on 41 kick returns and 16.6 YPR on 69 punt returns for his career. The former 2-Star QB recruit leaves college as a 3x All-American Return Specialist, and finishes his career tied for the most punt return TDs in FCS history with 8. While Bergen is not a bad WR with back to back 500+ yard seasons, he lacks the physical make up to make the jump from the FCS level and carve out a role in the NFL.
Kyle Shanahan has already confirmed Bergen will operate as a return specialist this year, a position that has been a struggle for the 49ers to really generate impact from, especially with the new kick return rules. Bergen will likely compete with fellow rookie Jordan Watkins and 2024 draft pick Jacob Cowing for KR and PR duties this summer.
Free Agents
In an effort to cut costs and reset the overall health of the teams long term salary cap, the 49ers relied more heavily on the draft that Free Agency. However, that doesn’t mean they didn’t add an important piece or two.
Luke Farrell - TE (Jacksonville Jaguars)
The biggest signing of the 2025 F/A period for San Francisco was TE Luke Farrell. The former 5th round pick by the Jaguars was signed to a 3 year, $16.2 million dollar deal with $11 million guaranteed, fairly early into the legal tampering period. The 4-year veteran has never been much of an receiver, coming off a measly 67 yards on 12 receptions in 2024, and only cracking 100 yards in a season once in his career. However, that is of little concern for a 49ers team with plenty of playmakers, the reason they brough him in and paid him well for his services, is his blocking ability. Two of the more underrated departures from the 2023-2024 49ers team that went to the Super Bowl, were TE’s Charlie Woerner and Ross Dwelley (who just recently resigned with SF himself). Two players who offered little receiving impact, but were capable and versatile blockers. The 49ers attempted to replace them last year with RFA Brock Wright, who they signed to a similar contact as Farrell, before having their offer matched by the Lions and never found a suitable replacement.
Farrell is a second attempt to replace the loss of Woerner, and its easy to see why. The 6’ 5” 250 pound TE has the requisite size and length (his 33 inch arms were 51st percentile coming out of college) to be an above average in-line blocker in 2-TE sets. In the clip below you can see he is capable of taking on a head up 6T at the point of attack and holding off his man without help long enough for the back to hit the hole.
It’s for this exact reason, Farrell was primarily used as the primary Y in Jacksonville, with 71% of his snaps coming as a in-line player. Just because he is more of an in-line player doesn’t mean he can’t move, particularly as a blocker. Jacksonville was mostly a gap scheme team in 2024 but did run some zone concepts, where Farrell showed the movement skills to get his head across on reach blocks and sustain long enough for his ball carrier to get upfield.
He’s also someone capable of being left in pass protection by himself, a role often occupied - much to the chagrin of 49ers fans - by George Kittle. While it will never be a strength or something you seek out, the ability to handle it, particularly on play action passes is important.
Farrell won’t wow anyone with his end of season stat-line, but if the 49ers offense is to get back to its typical ways he will likely be an unsung hero for his ability to block in run game, and free up more dynamic playmakers (particularly George Kittle) to do what they do best.
Bryce Huff - EDGE (Philadelphia Eagles)*
*Updated 5/30 to account for Huff trade details
While technically not a free agent as Huff was acquired in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles for a mid round pick in late May, he is arguably the biggest non-rookie addition for the 49ers this offseason. Huff is coming off a poor 2024 with the Eagles, where he posted only 23 pressures and 2 sacks, but is only a year removed from a 10 sack, 67 pressure season with the Jets in 2023 under Robert Saleh. A big reason for the Eagles moving on from Huff was an albatross 3 year, 51 million dollar deal, but according to ESPN’s Field Yates, the 49ers are only responsible for his remaining 20 million over the next two years, making the cost much more palatable for San Francisco.
So what does the tape say about the addition?
In Huff’s 2023 breakout season he was one of the best pass rushers in football despite never going over 35 snaps in a game. His 21.8% pressure rate was the best mark in football and led to him averaging a pressure every 5th pass rush snap. The Jets primarily used him on 3rd down - Huff played on 82% of the Jets 3rd down snaps in 2023 - where he could pin his ears back and attack upfield.
Huff’s best trait as a speed rusher is his movement skills. The Jets Wide-9 alignment gave him the space to weaponize his burst and change of direction skills to beat tackles consistently around either shoulder. In the clip below you can see those traits on full display against his future team in the Eagles.
While 2024 was not nearly as good of a year, with his snaps being slashed by almost half, and his traditional counting stats falling off a cliff, Huff’s underlying metrics still show a capable pass rusher. His 15% pass rush win rate ranked 19th among EDGE defenders and his win rate in true pass sets jumped to 24.1%, good for 10th best at the position. There were still plenty of reps on tape, like the one below where he beats All-Pro OT Tristan Wirfs off the edge despite a late start, where his speed rush ability mirrors what he showed in 2023.
The main reason Huff fell out of favor in Philly was his awkward scheme fit in a Vic Fangio defense, which was primarily driven by his inability to defend the run. An issue that has permeated his play for most of his career, but was a deal breaker in a Fangio system that requires its DEs to set the edge. Ideally you would like your playside EDGEs to be able to stand up to OTs and win a majority of their reps versus TEs at worst, and in the clip below you can see even that is a struggle for Huff. The Fangio system, and really any defense, would like him to be able to attack the blocker and squeeze the gap to force a bounce or cutback from the ball carrier. Worst case he should be able to stalemate this TE and prevent a big hole from forming, but he is passive catching the blocker, easily getting turned away from the hole creating a clear rushing lane for the back.
Effort is not an issue for Huff, he has a consistent motor and doesn’t shy away from meeting pullers in the hole, but he lacks the frame and functional play strength to hold up at the point of attack. When combined with an aggressive upfield play style, he is a poor and volatile run defender on a snap-to-snap basis.
The 49ers will very likely ask Huff to slide back into the role that made him so effective in his two years in New York, as a situational pass rusher from the Wide-9. Huff has never exceeded 450 total snaps or150 versus the run in a season to date, and he has only logged 15 snaps inside the tackle in his pro career. 1st Round Pick Mykel Williams will likely man the starting spot opposite Nick Bosa on early downs with Huff on the bench and either slide inside or come off the field in favor of Huff in pure pass rush situations.