1 day Ago By Niners Wire
With 11 selections in the 2025 NFL draft, the San Francisco 49ers needed to get things right with their picks.The early returns are that the 49ers found some players that can really help them. In his look at the 100 best picks, steals and fits in the 2025 NFL draft, ESPN's Matt Miller included four 49ers.
First-round draft choice Mykel Williams of Georgia made the list as Miller's 38th-best fit. Defensive tackle C.J.
West of Indiana earned the No. 78 slot, wide receiver Jordan Watkins of Ole Miss checked in at No. 90 and running back Jordan James of Oregon garnered the No.
98 spot.Here's what ESPN and Miller had to say about each of those 49ers draft picks.Edge Mykel WilliamsThe 49ers chose Georgia edge rusher Mykel Williams with the No.
11 overall pick in the draft's first round. The 6-foot-5, 260 pound edge rusher was a freshman All-American in 2022 and garnered second-team All-SEC honors in 2023 and 2024.During his career with the Bulldogs, Williams tallied 67 tackles, 21.
5 tackles for loss, and 14 sacks.Williams played well in two big games against Texas, but an ankle injury in Week 1 lingered all season and carried over to his predraft testing. He was regarded as an elite prospect entering the 2024 season and will get a chance to thrive with All-Pro Nick Bosa drawing attention opposite him.
New defensive coordinator Robert Saleh can unlock Williams' considerable potential. - Miller, ESPN.DT C.
J. WestSan Francisco scooped up Indiana defensive tackle C.J.
West with pick No. 113 in the draft's fourth round. West began his collegiate career at Kent State before transferring to Indiana for his final year.
The 6-foot-1, 316 pound defensive tackle appeared in 52 games with 48 starts, recording 152 tackles, 27 tackles for loss, 9.0 sacks, two forced fumbles, and two passes defended.The 49ers made a commitment to stopping the run in this draft, and West will see early reps along the defensive line as a potential developmental starter at 3-technique.
- Miller, ESPN.WR Jordan WatkinsSan Francisco added Jordan Watkins to its roster with the No. 138 pick in the fourth round of the draft.
A 5-foot-11, 196 pound receiver, Watkins totaled 185 receptions for 2,682 yards and 18 touchdowns, while also contributing as a return specialist during his 60 career games and 42 starts at Louisville and Ole Miss.The 49ers probably could have landed Watkins later, but his speed and vertical route-running skills are an asset. Turn on his five-touchdown game against Arkansas and you'll see the vision of this pick.
- Miller, ESPN.RB Jordan JamesThe 5-foot-10, 208 pound running back rushed for 1,267 yards and 15 touchdowns to earn second-team All-Big Ten honors in his final collegiate season. James appeared in 38 games during his college career, totaling 2,215 yards and 31 touchdowns while averaging 5.
74 yards per carry.The former Duck also caught 42 receptions for 347 yards and a touchdown.Kyle Shanahan can't resist Day 3 running backs, and it felt like a real need after the team traded Jordan Mason to the Vikings.
We saw what injuries did to the 49ers' backfield last season. The hard-running James will likely start as the team's RB3. - Miller, ESPN.
San Francisco also added Texas defensive tackle Alfred Collins in the second round, Oklahoma State linebacker Nick Martin in the third, Western Kentucky cornerback Upton Stout in the third, Kansas State safety Marques Sigle in the fifth, Indiana quarterback Kurtis Rourke in the seventh, Iowa guard Connor Colby in the seventh and Montana receiver Junior Bergen in the seventh.This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: Best NFL draft picks: 4 49ers land in ESPN's top 100.
