49ers land premium prospect from Kyle Shanahan's alma mater in latest 2025 NFL Mock Draft

In case it wasn't already obvious, the San Francisco 49ers' latest defeat to the Miami Dolphins further underlined their need for offensive line help in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Brock Purdy threw a crucial interception on a potential game-winning drive as a banged-up O-Line surrendered quick pressure, with a lack of quality starters and a similar paucity of strength in depth proving a problem throughout 2024.

Fortunately for San Francisco, dropping to 6-9 puts them in a position to land one of the top offensive linemen in the upcoming draft.

And AJ Schulte's latest three-round mock for A to Z Sports has them taking one, with Texas OT Kelvin Banks going to San Francisco with the 11th overall pick, which the 49ers would hold if the season ended right now.

Writing about Banks, who is still in the middle of a College Football Playoff campaign for Kyle Shanahan's alma mater, Schulte highlighted his versatility as an asset for the 49ers.

He wrote:

"The 49ers didn't envision picking close to the top ten by season's end, but here they are. This opens up quite a few possibilities for this pick.

"It might be time to think about finding Trent Williams's long-term replacement over at left tackle soon, and picking this high ensures they get almost any tackle they want. Kelvin Banks has the ability to kick inside in the short-term to replace Aaron Banks or can flip over to right tackle if they want him to before settling down at left tackle in the future."

Schulte has the 49ers following up that selection by addressing the other side of the trenches with the pick of Ohio State edge rusher J.T. Tuimoloau with the 43rd overall pick.

Tuimoloau has a career-high eight sacks this season and would provide a substantial boost to a defensive line that has lacked edge depth in 2024, an issue that was exacerbated by another Buckeye, Nick Bosa, missing three games because of hip and oblique injuries.

With their final pick in the three-round mock, the 49ers select Clemson defensive tackle Demonte Capehart 75th overall.

Schulte writes: "On runs up the middle, the 49ers rank dead last in the league in yards, first downs, and touchdowns allowed. The middle of their defensive line has been a problem for years, and it's about time that they fix it."

Capehart, per Pro Football Focus, ranks tied 15th in the FBS this season among interior defensive lineman eligible for this draft with at least 100 run defense snaps in run stop rate (9.5%).

The trenches have been the biggest area of concern for the 49ers in an underwhelming defense of the NFC title they won last year. If the Niners can find themselves a long-term answer at tackle while boosting their edge pass rush and their interior run defense, they'll be in good shape for a bounce-back year.