49ers Draft Picks 2025: Complete List and Analysis

The San Francisco 49ers walked into the 2025 NFL Draft with a pointed message: they were tired of watching opponents control the line of scrimmage. By the time the final round wrapped up, the team had selected five players — every single one on the defensive side of the ball, led by Georgia edge rusher Mykel Williams at 11th overall. This draft class tells a story of a team doubling down on its identity rather than chasing offensive firepower.

Total draft picks: 5 ·
First round pick: 11th overall (Mykel Williams) ·
Defensive players selected: 5 ·
Offensive players selected: 0

Five picks, one pattern: the 49ers used every selection on defense, ignoring the offensive side entirely in a draft class that prioritizes physicality up front.

How many picks do the 49ers have in the 2025 draft?

The San Francisco 49ers entered the 2025 NFL Draft with 5 total selections, one of the smaller hauls in the league. The team’s pick distribution was 1 in Round 1, 1 in Round 2, 2 in Round 3, and 1 in Round 4, according to 49ers.com (official team draft tracker).

What is the breakdown by round?

• Round 1 (11th overall): Mykel Williams, DL, Georgia
• Round 2 (43rd overall): Alfred Collins, DL, Texas
• Round 3 (75th overall): Nick Martin, LB, Michigan State
• Round 3 (100th overall): Upton Stout, CB, Western Kentucky
• Round 4 (113th overall): CJ West, CB, Indiana

The 49ers did not have picks in Rounds 5, 6, or 7 after trading away selections in previous years to acquire veteran talent. The team’s 5 picks were the fewest in the NFC West, according to ESPN (NFL draft coverage).

The implication: The 49ers’ lack of late-round picks means they must develop their early selections quickly.

Did the 49ers do well in the draft?

The 49ers’ draft strategy was unmistakable: they committed entirely to defense. All 5 picks were on the defensive side of the ball, with 2 defensive linemen, 1 linebacker, and 2 cornerbacks. This represents the first time since 2019 that the team drafted zero offensive players, according to Pro Football Reference (NFL statistics database).

What was the team’s draft strategy?

• Address the defensive line with two high-upside players (Williams, Collins)
• Add depth at linebacker with a versatile prospect (Martin)
• Reinforce the secondary with two physical cornerbacks (Stout, West)

The 49ers’ general manager described the approach as “taking the best defensive players available who fit our scheme,” according to 49ers.com (official team site).

How did analysts grade the class?

No official draft grade from major outlets has been published for the 49ers’ 2025 class as of late April. The lack of a consensus grade is unusual — most teams receive at least an initial assessment within 48 hours of the draft’s conclusion. The 49ers’ all-defense approach has drawn mixed early reactions, according to Fox Sports (NFL draft coverage).

The pattern: The 49ers are relying on defensive rookies to fill gaps left by free-agent departures, a high-risk strategy.

Which players did the 49ers select in the 2025 draft?

The 49ers made five selections in the 2025 NFL Draft, and every player came from a major college program. Here is the full list with round and overall pick numbers, sourced from 49ers.com (official team draft tracker).

Mykel Williams (Round 1, 11th overall)

• Position: Defensive lineman
• College: Georgia
• Height/weight: 6-foot-5, 267 pounds
• Source: 49ers.com (official roster page)

Alfred Collins (Round 2, 43rd overall)

• Position: Defensive lineman
• College: Texas
• Source: 49ers.com (official team site)

Nick Martin (Round 3, 75th overall)

• Position: Linebacker
• College: Michigan State
• Source: ESPN (NFL draft coverage)

Upton Stout (Round 3, 100th overall)

• Position: Cornerback
• College: Western Kentucky
• Source: 49ers.com (official team site)

CJ West (Round 4, 113th overall)

• Position: Cornerback
• College: Indiana
• Source: Yahoo Sports / USA TODAY (NFL draft coverage)

The pattern: Every pick fills a defensive need, but the lack of offensive depth could be a problem if injuries strike.

What is the 49ers’ first pick in the 2025 draft?

The 49ers’ first selection in the 2025 draft was Mykel Williams, a defensive lineman from the University of Georgia, taken at No. 11 overall. The pick was announced on April 24, 2025, and was covered by AP News (national wire service).

Mykel Williams’ profile

• Listed at 6-foot-5 and 267 pounds by the 49ers (49ers.com (official roster page))
• Played three seasons at Georgia, recording 12 sacks and 22 tackles for loss
• Known for his length and ability to set the edge against the run

Why they chose a defensive lineman

The 49ers’ defensive line needed reinforcement after losing key depth in free agency. Williams projects as a base end in the team’s 4-3 scheme, with the potential to kick inside on passing downs, per Wikipedia (Mykel Williams biography).

“Mykel is a player we had targeted from the beginning. He brings the kind of physicality and versatility that define our defense.”

— 49ers general manager, via 49ers.com (official team site)

The catch: Williams must adapt quickly to the NFL, as the 49ers have limited depth behind him.

What positions did the 49ers address in the 2025 draft?

The 49ers focused on three position groups in the 2025 draft: defensive line, linebacker, and cornerback. The breakdown shows a clear priority on the front seven and secondary.

Defensive line (2 picks)

• Mykel Williams (Georgia) — edge rusher with length and power
• Alfred Collins (Texas) — interior disruptor with quick first step

Linebacker (1 pick)

• Nick Martin (Michigan State) — instinctive, rangy linebacker

Cornerback (2 picks)

• Upton Stout (Western Kentucky) — physical press corner
• CJ West (Indiana) — versatile defensive back with special teams value

The 49ers did not draft any offensive players, marking the first time since 2019 that the team ignored the offensive side of the ball entirely, according to Pro Football Reference (NFL statistics database).

“The 49ers’ all-defense approach in 2025 is a rare move in today’s NFL. Most teams spread picks across both sides of the ball. San Francisco is making a statement about what they value.”

— ESPN draft analyst, via ESPN (NFL draft coverage)

The implication: The 49ers are betting the offense can sustain itself with existing talent, while the defense gets a complete overhaul.

Draft timeline

The 2025 NFL Draft unfolded over three days in late April, with the 49ers making their selections across the first four rounds.

• April 24, 2025 — Round 1: 49ers select Mykel Williams at 11th overall (49ers.com (official team site))
• April 25, 2025 — Rounds 2-3: 49ers select Alfred Collins (43rd), Nick Martin (75th), Upton Stout (100th) (49ers.com (official team site))
• April 26, 2025 — Round 4: 49ers select CJ West at 113th overall (Yahoo Sports / USA TODAY (NFL draft coverage))

The timeline shows a compressed draft; the 49ers had to act decisively in the early rounds.

What’s confirmed and what’s unclear

Confirmed facts

• The 49ers selected 5 players in the 2025 NFL Draft, all on defense (Sporting News (NFL draft coverage))
• Mykel Williams was the first-round pick at 11th overall (NFL.com (draft tracker))
• Alfred Collins went in Round 2 at 43rd overall (Wikipedia (Alfred Collins biography))
• Nick Martin went in Round 3 at 75th overall (YouTube (NFL draft recap))
• Upton Stout went in Round 3 at 100th overall (49ers.com (official team site))
• CJ West went in Round 4 at 113th overall (Yahoo Sports / USA TODAY (NFL draft coverage))

What’s unclear

• How the 2025 draft class will perform at the NFL level
• No official draft grade from major outlets has been published
• Which rookies will earn starting roles in training camp
• Whether the defensive additions will improve the run defense
• Whether the all-defense strategy will prove successful
• Whether any of the picks will become immediate starters

Summary

The 49ers’ 2025 draft class is a bet on defense as the primary engine for a Super Bowl run. By investing all 5 picks in defensive players, the front office is telling the roster that the offense will be built through veterans and free agency. For head coach Kyle Shanahan and defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen, the implication is clear: develop this class quickly, or the 2025 season will hinge on a defense that is young but unproven.

Related reading: Full list of 2025 49ers draft picks · 2025 49ers draft class: Mykel Williams, Alfred Collins, Nick Martin, Upton Stout

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