The San Francisco 49ers had one of the league's busiest 2025 NFL draft performances last week. Looking to bounce back from last year's six-win season, the 49ers drafted a whopping 11 rookies during their three-day stay in Green Bay, leaving time to tell if the likes of defensive lineman Mykel Williams and linebacker Nick Martin can make an impact as soon as this fall.
Several of the 49ers' picks were used to fill holes and replace declining veterans, however, there weren't enough selections to address every need. Having said that, San Francisco general manager John Lynch still has more than enough time to replace one struggling blocker, even though the draft is over.
49ers Can Still Replace OL Austen Pleasants After Draft
Upgrading the offensive line was on Lynch's 'to-do' list to begin the 2025 offseason. Although the 49ers owned one of the NFL's better frontlines last season, the spring departures of veteran blockers Aaron Banks and Jaylon Moore left some glaring holes that needed filling.
Not only did the 49ers neglect their O-line situation in free agency outside of adding D.J. Humphries, but they also did so during the draft. San Francisco didn't take a blocker until drafting former Iowa OL Connor Colby in the seventh round, and failed to take advantage of the undrafted free agent market, only adding ex-Colorado State guard Drew Moss.
Bubble blockers like Austen Pleasants are likely breathing a sigh of relief due to the 49ers' lack of O-line moves. The former Ohio product played three games in a San Francisco jersey last season after being signed in December, but his performance was nothing to write home about as he finished with Pro Football Focus grades of 49.3 and 55.7 for pass protection and run blocking, respectively.
Despite the poor performance, 49ers fans were caught off guard when the 49ers re-signed Pleasants in the middle of April. The last thing quarterback Brock Purdy needs is unreliable protection, which is why fans thought the Ironton, OH native was as good as gone.
Fortunately, Pleasants' re-signing doesn't guarantee he'll make the 53-man roster, and there's still more than enough time to replace him.
The post-draft fallout is continuing, meaning the 49ers still have time to sign more undrafted rookies (or invite some for tryouts) before next weekend's minicamp. If San Francisco wants a more experienced presence to replace Pleasants, veteran names like Joseph Noteboom, Will Hernandez, and Dalton Risner can still be signed to affordable 'prove yourself' deals.
It'll be up to Pleasants to find a way to prove he deserves to be a part of the 49ers' offensive line in 2025. Failing to do so could see the 27-year-old blocker kicked to the curb before the offseason's next phase even begins.