The 49ers need edge-rushing help, and Ashton Gillotte could easily fit the bill as a mid-round target.
The San Francisco 49ers need to fully reinforce their defensive line heading into 2025 after gutting most of it earlier this offseason. Outside of All-Pro defensive end Nick Bosa, there isn't much there by the way of starting-caliber talent.
It wouldn't be a shock to see the Niners use their top pick, No. 11 overall, on a lineman. But, should they stay this course, finding an interior defensive tackle is probably the priority.
That shouldn't prevent San Francisco from grabbing some edge-rushing help later, though, especially after releasing veteran defensive end Leonard Floyd at the start of the league new year.
The question, of course, is where the 49ers look for pass-rushing talent. Day two? If so, should that happen in Round 2 or 3? And what about sleepers? Certainly some day-two talent will fall into Rounds 4 and beyond.
The Niners have to explore those possibilities, too.
Fortunately, there's one name to keep an eye on.
Louisville's Ashton Gillotte is a name 49ers must watch
Had he declared a year ago, Louisville defensive end Ashton Gillotte might have been a fringe first-round pick after tallying 11 sacks and 15 tackles for a loss over 14 games. But the 6-foot-3 and 264-pound defender opted to return to the Cardinals, which resulted in a less-impressive 4.5-sack campaign.
Not necessarily seen as twitchy or overly athletic, many a scouting report tabbed Gillotte as an early day-three pick.
That might have changed, though, after an impressive pro-day performance:
For reference, a 4.63 40-yard time is exceptionally fast for defensive ends. And while it might not ease concerns about Gillotte's run-defense deficiencies or ability to convert pressures into sacks against blockers, the performance should boost him into consideration as early as Round 3 now.
Of note, San Francisco has two picks in the third round, Nos. 75 and 100 overall, the latter being of the compensatory variety.
Finding a bookend to Bosa is a priority, and Gillotte has to be firmly on the radar now if he wasn't already.
