The NFL Draft is an intriguing proposition for teams to continue building their rosters after free agency and set themselves up for long-term success.
Many factors go into the players that teams select. Sometimes, franchises opt for the best player available; other times, they target weak positions on their roster. To have a successful draft, there must be a balance between selecting top talent and addressing immediate needs.
49ers Face Challenges Entering 2025
This year’s draft was extremely valuable for the San Francisco 49ers, given the players they lost during the offseason and Brock Purdy’s looming second contract.
That upcoming deal will severely limit San Francisco’s ability to spend big in future free agency periods. As a result, the team is forced to rely heavily on last year’s promising rookie class and this year’s draft to retool the roster.
This draft has both positives and negatives. The 49ers returned to their roots, taking a defensive lineman early for the first time since drafting Javon Kinlaw in 2020. They did a great job addressing their previously porous rushing defense, which was exposed often last season.
However, the offensive line — a weak spot for the 49ers — was not heavily addressed. San Francisco lost both Aaron Banks and Jaylon Moore in free agency. The offensive line had already been a struggling unit, and with these departures, retooling the group was critical. Despite this, the 49ers drafted only one lineman, taking Connor Colby in the seventh round.
Veteran Help for the Offensive Line
The team attempted to shore up the offensive line by signing veteran offensive tackle D.J. Humphries in free agency.
A former Pro Bowler and first-round pick, Humphries brings pedigree to the roster. He should provide immediate competition at right tackle and a veteran presence in the locker room. While he has had injury concerns and may not be the player he once was, he still provides valuable depth and experience, especially as a post-draft signing.
Back to the Defensive Blueprint
What fans should love most about this draft is that the 49ers returned to building from the defensive line.
Early in the John Lynch era, the team heavily invested in the front four, using high-value picks and spending significantly in free agency. San Francisco used its first two picks this year on defensive linemen, both known for being premier run stoppers at their respective positions.
After rehiring Robert Saleh as defensive coordinator, it’s clear the team wants to return to a dominant front seven. Saleh, unlike DeMeco Ryans and Steve Wilks, prefers a simpler approach. If he can get pressure with four players, he’ll stick to that all game and keep seven players in coverage. That suffocating defensive identity is built on elite play from the front four, especially in the run game, which the 49ers prioritized.
Plenty of Offensive Weapons Still in Place
Despite the loss of Deebo Samuel, the 49ers still have strong offensive pieces. Brandon Aiyuk and rookie Ricky Pearsall are positioned to make an impact this season. The team also boasts Trent Williams, arguably the best left tackle in football, and Christian McCaffrey, who remains one of the league’s top running backs.
San Francisco also has its franchise quarterback, assuming contract negotiations with Purdy proceed smoothly. Barring offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan resolving the red-zone struggles from last season, the 49ers are positioned to have a strong offense once again.
A Smart Retool, Not a Full Rebuild
Defense and special teams were the biggest weaknesses for the 49ers last season, and they’ve done a good job addressing those issues despite a mass exodus of players. Great organizations know when it’s time to retool, and the 49ers are doing just that— without undergoing a full rebuild.
They still have cornerstone stars like Purdy, McCaffrey, George Kittle, Nick Bosa, and Fred Warner. Combined with promising talent from last year’s rookie class and this year’s additions, the 49ers are executing a timely retool around their franchise quarterback’s looming extension.
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