There’s a clear focus for the 49ers in this mock draft.
There are only 10 days left until the 2025 NFL Draft, where the San Francisco 49ers are slated to pick at No. 11 overall in the first round.
So, what better time for Mock Draft Monday? Last week, I brought out my three-round mock 1.0, where there was a clear focus on the trenches.
While the priorities remained the same heading into this mock draft, the direction that I went was slightly altered, based on how the board shaped out.
This one included a defense-heavy approach (once again) and another trade.
Round 1, Pick 14: Texas A&M DE Shemar Stewart
Last time, I executed a trade back that was offered in the second round. This time, there was an early trade-up that I couldn’t pass up on.
I moved back from No. 11 to No. 14 with the Indianapolis Colts, getting the No. 80 pick back in return. There were plenty of viable options I was considering at No. 11, with several on the defensive line, including Stewart, Walter Nolen, Mike Green, Jalon Walker, Mykel Williams, James Pearce, and Derrick Harmon, among others.
That made me comfortable trading back with the Colts, who clearly wanted their top tight end on the board.
At No. 14, Green was off the board (his off-the-field concerns would’ve struck him from the options), so I went with Texas A&M’s Shemar Stewart. The 6’5, 267-pound defensive lineman has some of the best traits of all-time, can be versatile, and has the potential to be a three-down player.
He has the mold of a player who can be special under defensive line coach Kris Kocurek. The elite length is a weapon off the edge. The power can hold up as a pass-rusher and a run-stopper. And the athleticism can be a disadvantage when used on the interior.
Round 2, Pick 42: Notre Dame CB Benjamin Morrison
In my last mock draft, I executed a trade down here to secure another third-round pick. There, I took South Carolina defensive tackle T.J. Sanders, who could very well be an option at No. 42.
This time around, I went in a different direction, targeting Notre Dame cornerback Benjamin Morrison. Now, this pick comes with a caveat, as his medicals must be a green flag for the 49ers after the cornerback missed the 2024 season with a hip injury.
But, in a regular draft, Morrison would likely go in the first round, and he fills a need on the perimeter left by Charvarius Ward. He’d join Deommodore Lenoir and Renardo Green to form San Francisco’s new young cornerback trio, increasing the chances of having an elite secondary.
Morrison has good size at 6’0, 193 pounds, is suited for press coverage, and good instincts at the position, which the 49ers covet. He’s the pick at No. 42.
Round 3, Pick 75: Texas DT Alfred Collins
After addressing the defensive line in the first round, I focused on the interior here by taking Collins early in the third round.
Collins could go before this, but the depth at defensive tackle could push him back, to the 49ers benefit. He is a big defensive tackle at 6’6, 332 pounds, and can defend the run well with his great physical traits.
Additionally, he has the potential to become a three-down player with his long arms and good power, which defensive line coach Kris Kocurek can harness to his advantage.
The 49ers need to take a defensive tackle on Day 1 or Day 2. Collins fits a key need and adds another piece to the revamped defensive line for the 49ers.
Round 3, Pick 80: Texas S Andrew Mukuba
Entering this mock draft, I did not anticipate taking a safety, given the 49ers’ needs and moves this offseason.
San Francisco still has Malik Mustapha and Ji’Ayir Brown as young pieces drafted within the last two years. They signed Jason Pinnock to a one-year, fully-guaranteed, $2.2 million deal and Siran Neal to a two-year, $4 million deal worth $2.25 million guaranteed. They also have George Odum, who is entering the first year of a two-year, $7.5 million deal. And they added former second-round pick Richie Grant in free agency.
So, quite a few moves at safety this offseason, although none that were really earth-shattering.
Still, I went with a best-player-available approach here, and that led me to take Texas safety Andrew Mukuba at No. 80 with the pick I got from the Colts trade.
Standing 5’11, 186 pounds, Mukuba is a bit undersized for the position, but ran a 4.45 40-yard dash and has great instincts in the secondary. He seems like a versatile chess piece that San Francisco can move around in its defense, but needs more consistency when it comes to tackling, which has been a problem with 49ers safeties in the past.
Mukuba does have great ball skills, though, and head coach Kyle Shanahan’s Texas connection should provide great background when deeper further into the player.
Round 3, Pick 100: Tulsa LB Chris Paul Jr.
Another mock draft, another linebacker at No. 100 in the third round. This time only, it’s Chris Paul Jr. instead of Barrett Carter.
Ultimately, I wasn’t sure that I’d be taking a linebacker either, given the other needs on the roster, but the board fell that way, leading me to Dre Greenlaw’s potential replacement: Chris Paul Jr.
At 6’1, 222 pounds, Paul has good burst paired with good instincts at the linebacker position, having a good overall foundation. That should pair well alongside a playmaker like Fred Warner, boosting Paul’s development.
Now, the 49ers struggled last year at the No. 2 linebacker spot alongside Warner, throwing a few different players in that position. Paul doesn’t have to step into that role in Year 1, but would definitely compete alongside Dee Winters as San Francisco gets younger at linebacker.