The San Francisco 49ers aren't used to drafting in the top half of the first round, nor do they expect to do so again anytime soon. But as a Super Bowl core ages into regression and more expensive contracts, yesteryear's core must be replenished.
The 2025 NFL Draft will provide them that opportunity. With the 11th pick in a class with high-level talent in the trenches, the needs of this roster and the draft are aligned. Should San Francisco stay put, an opportunity to inject youth and athleticism to a valuable position is waiting for head coach Kyle Shanahan and the front office.
Still, there's little consensus about the team's first-round fate. Mock Draft Database lists corner Will Johnson along with two tackles as their most popular selections. With the class' top two tackles projected to be off the board, investment up front isn't guaranteed either.
In The Athletic's recent mock draft, expert Dane Brugler linked the 49ers to polarizing edge rusher prospect Shemar Stewart in the first round.
"I certainly understand the reservations with Stewart and his lack of sack production in college - he isn't a slam-dunk prospect," Brugler wrote. "But he created plenty of noise when the Aggies allowed him to pin back his ears and attack the quarterback (he led A&M in pressures in 2024). His dominant Senior Bowl flashes and elite explosion numbers at the combine could be enough to convince a pass rush-starved team such as the 49ers to bet on his tools."
As the industry's foremost draft analyst, Brugler shifting from the consensus is notable. The Texas A&M product, though, would be met with as much excitement as skepticism.
Stewart logged just 1.5 sacks in each of his three seasons, giving fans justified pause. However, Texas A&M's surf technique limited opportunities for Stewart, who flashed plenty of tools and boasted All-World athleticism. Stewart dominated the NFL Scouting Combine to the tune of a 4.60-second 40-yard dash and a 40-inch vertical at 6-5, 267.
Stewart may be unproven as a pass rusher, but his upside is enough and his run defense projects to be well above average from the jump. He's likely to play heavier than his Combine weight as he rushed as a tackle frequently at Texas A&M. Fortifying the team's run defense by displacing tackles on early downs gives him the runway to stay on the field and pursue his pass-rushing potential against more versatile offenses.
When San Francisco is at its best, it can win in the trenches, matching Kyle Shanahan's schematic masterpieces with unforgiving physicality. A Stewart selection would be a significant step toward that formula.
