Why did the Niners go with Mykel Williams over Jalon Walker?
Jalon Walker was seen as the 49ers' likely first-round NFL Draft choice, but Mykel Williams ended up being the pick. We may now know why.
In the weeks counting down to the 2025 NFL Draft, it wasn't hard to find speculation and rumor linking the San Francisco 49ers to Georgia edge defender Jalon Walker, including a mock trade-up approach by Sports Illustrated's Matt Verderame.
But that's not the direction the Niners went when they were on the clock at No. 11 overall.
Instead, general manager John Lynch and Co. grabbed Georgia defensive end Mykel Williams.
While the full truth behind why San Francisco opted for Williams over Walker might never be known completely, sources linked to the SEC helped shed light on why the 49ers went in the direction they did.
On the surface, it'd be understandable for the Niners to highlight Walker, a versatile prospect who drew comparisons from draft analyst Mike Mayock to Dallas Cowboys All-Pro defender Micah Parsons. And if Walker winds up being a Parsons-like player, then it's fair to assume San Francisco whiffed by taking Williams instead.
But, in a piece by ESPN's Adam Rittenberg, speaking to scouts and coaches for the SEC, the Niners' choice to go with Williams instead winds up making a lot more sense.
Why 49ers chose Mykel Williams over Jalon Walker
Indeed, Rittenberg highlighted how some felt Walker was the better overall player in comparison to Williams. But, according to one coaching assistant, "there's some position curiosity around Walker" and "how he'll be used in the NFL."
The idea of cloning Parsons is a lot easier than actually doing it.
A Georgia source expanded on why Williams ended up being the 49ers' preferred player, and the rationale made perfect sense:
"The 49ers are used to playing big guys up front. That's what makes the Eagles defense so good, because they kept everything condensed in the box. The 49ers were doing the same thing before and now with [defensive coordinator Robert Saleh] back, they'll take the same approach with guys like Mykel."
Comparing the two, Williams is 6-foot-5 and 260 pounds, whereas Walker is 6-foot-1 and 243 pounds. The former is a more natural edge defender, while the latter is a movable chess piece without a clearly defined role at the pro level.
From the Niners' vantage point, they needed a bookend to pair on the defensive line with All-Pro Nick Bosa, so the decision was an easy one when they announced Williams as the 11th overall pick. Lynch even admitted San Francisco tried trading up to ensure it got Williams, but a trade-up never materialized.
Fortunately for the 49ers, the defender fell to them anyway.
Walker, meanwhile, ended up being selected by the Atlanta Falcons shortly thereafter at No. 15 overall.
Hat tip to David Bonilla at 49ers Webzone for the find.
