The San Francisco 49ers will have a first-round pick inside the top 15 (No. 11 overall) for the first time since 2021 when they took Trey Lance with the No. 3 overall pick. The 49ers need to get younger on both sides of the ball after finishing the 2024 season with a disappointing 6-11 record.
San Francisco suffered numerous injuries and could not overcome them to get back into the playoff picture. Most mock drafts have the 49ers getting help on the offensive line or adding to the defense.
49ers star tight end George Kittle was on the Sports Seriously Show with Mackenzie Salmon and was asked his thoughts on what San Francisco should do in the NFL Draft. Kittle wants the team to build in the trenches.
"If the Super Bowl showed anything, if you have a really good offensive line and a really good defensive line, it doesn't matter what the other team has. It just doesn't matter. So if your offensive line is dominant, and your defense line is dominant, it doesn't really matter, Kittle said. That's my goal. That has always been my goal. Let's line up the best 5 offensive guys on the line with a tight end, and let's run the hell out of the football and let’s protect. Or on the Dline, let's get another defensive tackle or someone to pair with Nick Bosa and Leonard Floyd and let Fred Warner run free out there, and put less pressure on our DBs."
George Kittle is all in on the 49ers drafting an offensive or defensive lineman with pick 11:
— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) February 19, 2025
"If the Super Bowl showed anything, if you have a really good offensive line and a really good defensive line, it doesn't matter what the other team has. It just doesn't matter. So if… pic.twitter.com/ysuWPQrFFQ
This past season, the 49ers’ defense ranked 23rd in sacks (37), a decrease from their performance in 2023, when they went to the Super Bowl (48). In the 2023 season, Nick Bosa (10.5) and Javon Hargrave (7.0) were the team's top two sack leaders.
Fast-forward to 2024. Bosa led the Niners in sacks again (9), with Leonard Floyd behind him (8.5). However, the rest of the team's production left much to be desired, with Maliek Collins having the third-most sacks (5).
As for the offensive line, San Francisco needs to start preparing for life without Trent Williams, who won’t become a free agent until 2027. But Williams will turn 37 years old when Week 1 rolls around.
The 49ers could look to re-sign Jaylon Moore, which wouldn’t be a bad move, as he played 12 games as a rookie this past season. However, it would be smart to take the best tackle available in the draft and build up their offensive depth.
Kittle has laid the groundwork for what San Francisco should do in the draft, we’ll see if the team follows through.