San Francisco 49ers Draft Mykel Williams With 11th Overall Pick

The San Francisco 49ers had a rough season last year, mostly due to injuries. Christian McCaffrey only played in a handful of games, and Brandon Aiyuk tore his ACL early in the season. They were never able to garner any traction and are at a crossroads heading into the 2025 season. The team has gone all-in for a Super Bowl and come up short twice against the Kansas City Chiefs. Now, they have an aging roster with expensive players. They could use some young talent to try and make another run. They got a building block for their defense, Mykel Williams, the edge rusher out of Georgia.

San Francisco 49ers Draft Mykel Williams With 11th Overall Pick

Mykel Williams is one of the top edge rushers in the draft. He has spent the past three years with the Georgia Bulldogs and has been solid. This past year, he had 21 total tackles, five sacks, and two forced fumbles. His athleticism makes him a dangerous player off the edge. For the San Francisco 49ers, they now have a player to line up opposite Nick Bosa.

Bosa is one of the best pass-rushers in the league, but every pass rusher needs help on the line. Williams will likely get a lot of one-on-one opportunities as teams try to slow down the All-Pro defensive end. The offense was decimated by injuries last year, but the defense took a step back, too. They add some quality depth and get a great piece for defensive coordinator Robert Saleh.

Final Thoughts

The San Francisco 49ers will hopefully not be bitten by the injury bug in 2025. If the offense is healthy, they can do some damage, and the defense still has plenty of playmakers. With the addition of Williams, they hope to compete in a surprisingly tough NFC West. Can the 49ers defense return to its top ten form?