49ers Draft 'Wicked' D-Lineman In Projection

The San Francisco 49ers have had one of the better defenses in the NFL for the past several seasons, but they could use some depth on the interior of their defensive line.

In a recent article by PFF's Mason Cameron, he picks one player that he believes is the best fit for every team on Day 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft. For the Niners, he thinks that they could target South Carolina defensive linemen T.J. Sanders to help them get to opposing quarterbacks.

"The 49ers need a disruptive presence on the interior, so targeting a disruptive 3-technique like Sanders makes too much sense," Cameron writes. "His wicked first step and lateral quickness allowed him to penetrate at a high level, contributing to his 90.3 PFF pass-rush grade versus true pass sets last season."

"Wicked''? Sounds like a plan.

The 49ers were in the bottom 10 teams in the league in sacks this past season, so they could use some help getting through opposing offensive lines and taking down the quarterback.

Due in large part to his basketball background in high school, it is known that Sanders has a quick first step. He also reportedly ran a 4.99 in the 40-yard dash at South Carolina's Pro Day, which would place him above 12 defensive tackles at the NFL Draft Combine.

If the Niners decide they want to improve their defensive line alongside Nick Bosa, then the 6-4, 300-pound defensive tackle from South Carolina could be a very solid option.