The San Francisco 49ers added three players during the second day of the 2025 NFL draft, selecting Texas defensive tackle Alfred Collins in the second round and Oklahoma State linebacker Nick Martin and Western Kentucky cornerback Upton Stout in the third round on April 26.
The 49ers picked Georgia EDGE rusher Mykel Williams with the 11th overall pick during the first round, providing new defensive coordinator Robert Salah with a young talent to develop opposite star defensive lineman Nick Bosa.
General manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan continued the focus on the defensive side of play in the second and third rounds.
When asked by reporters if Williams, Collins and Martin will be day-one starters, Lynch said they will need to “earn it.”
Lynch said they have “aspirations,” they can start right way. “We think they all have qualities that can lend to being starters, but there is a lot of competition, a lot of good football players that are already here,” he said.
Shanahan added about the defensive focus, “You always want to address your bigger needs, but you don’t just draft to address needs, it’s got to fit right. But we hoped it played out that way because we needed to do that. … It all worked out. We were able to fill probably our biggest needs on the team right now.”
Lynch said they Williams, Collins and Martin were their top targets for the first three picks, and they were hoping to add a nickel cornerback with the fourth pick, with Stout among those they were interested in.
