It's not entirely fair to judge a rookie before he's taken a single NFL snap, but that won't stop content creators from speculating during the NFL's quiet offseason months. Bleacher Report analyst Brent Sobleski recently identified six first-round draft picks with the potential to disappoint in 2025, and the list included San Francisco 49ers defensive end Mykel Williams.
Notably, Sobleski isn't claiming that Williams won't develop into a key contributor over the course of his career. His list simply highlights players who may not make a significant impact right away.
Still, Sobleski's opening statement doesn't inspire confidence in Williams: "The idea of Mykel Williams is far more intriguing than the actual player."
Sobleski points out that Williams entered last season as a dark horse candidate to rise to the No. 1 overall pick. While that didn't materialize, the 49ers saw enough from the pass rusher to select him at No. 11 overall—and even attempted, unsuccessfully, to trade up to ensure they landed him.
"Williams' switch from an interior defender to full-time edge defender was a driving force behind the lofty projection," Sobleski wrote. "It happened to a degree, though the defensive lineman still found himself lined up in a 4i (inside shoulder of the offensive tackle) quite often. His sack numbers didn't dramatically increase, either. To be fair, Williams dealt with a high-ankle sprain that he suffered in Georgia's first game of the 2025 campaign."
Williams pushing through that injury spoke volumes about his toughness. Head coach Kyle Shanahan revealed that he was impressed with the rookie during pre-draft evaluations, even before learning that Williams had played through a painful setback.
"And then you hear that stuff and you're like, all right, that says a lot about his character, how tough he can play, that he only missed two games because of it," Shanahan said in April. "But also the fact—I know he is not healthy either all the time, because I know how much high-ankle sprains linger. And so, when you see that, and knowing he's playing through that, I look at all that as a huge bonus."
Bleacher Report's Matt Holder wrote the following in his scouting report of Williams:
The Georgia product has some work to do as a pass-rusher, though. Right now, he'll occasionally win with pure strength and athleticism, and he has the quickness and general movement skills to develop. However, his use of hands is sub-par as offensive tackles often make the first significant contact and thwart his moves before they can get started.Williams has flashed a solid long arm and ability to win with power, but he lacks a go-to move that he can win with in the NFL.
Sobleski acknowledges that Williams' development as a pass rusher is still in its early stages. The rookie will undoubtedly benefit from lining up alongside one of the best defenders in the game.
"The opportunity to play opposite Nick Bosa certainly helps," Sobleski added. "Williams can be an excellent run defender at the onset of his professional career. But the 20-year-old will need time to hone his craft for a year or two before he becomes the pass-rusher that San Francisco hopes he can be."
