Last season, the San Francisco 49ers struggled to get to the quarterback. They were ranked 23rd in sacks (37) and had the sixth-fewest pressures (117) in the league. It was a significant drop-off from this unit, especially from their performance in 2023.
San Fran’s defense was ranked eighth in sacks (48) and 13th in quarterback pressures (148) en route to playing in Super Bowl 58 against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Heading into the 2025 NFL Draft, the 49ers’ defense looks like a shell of its former self after seeing a mass exodus in free agency. San Fran’s brass played a role in that exodus, cutting Javon Hargrave, Maliek Collins, and Leonard Floyd.
The 49ers did not replace those guys in free agency, leaving the draft as the next option to fill those holes on defense. The good news for San Francisco fans is that the team has 11 picks to find instant contributors, including seven on Day 3.
49ers Should Consider David Walker in 2025 NFL Draft
Given the dearth of Day 3 selections San Francisco has, they should use one of them on former Central Arkansas star pass rusher David Walker. The 6-foot-1, 263-pound defensive end is one of the better small-school prospects in this year’s draft class.
Even though Walker doesn’t fit the mold of the Niners’ current defensive ends (Nick Bosa – 6’4, Yetur Gross-Matos – 6’5, Drake Jackson – 6’4), he still finds a way to apply pressure and make plays in the backfield.
Walker began his collegiate career at Division II Southern Arkansas University, spending two years there before playing his final three years of football at Central Arkansas.
In his three-year run at Central Arkansas, he had 191 total tackles, 63 tackles for loss, 31 sacks, eight pass deflections, and six forced fumbles. He was also named A-Sun Defensive Player of the Year once, UAC Defensive Player of the Year twice, and an FCS All-American three times (twice first-team).
Some draft analysts might scoff at those numbers because he played at the FCS level. However, it's hard to look past an undersized pass rusher with 68 total tackles, 23 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks, six pass deflections, and four forced fumbles in his last year at Central Arkansas.
No matter the level, football is football at the end of the day. Walker’s performance at Central Arkansas caught the attention of the NFL and the scouting community. He was in attendance at the Reese’s Senior Bowl and the combine earlier this year.
The 6-foot-1 defender has a great ball get-off, good closing speed, and a high motor. He does not stop until he gets to the ball carrier or quarterback. His hand usage must be cleaned up at the next level, but 49ers coaches could fix it during minicamps and training camp.
The 49ers reportedly used a top-30 visit on Walker, so it's clear he’s on their radar. If you are a Niners fan, you want to see this team get younger on the defensive line and find guys who can get after the quarterback.