We went through each round and determined if there was a fit for the 49ers to address a glaring need at defensive tackle
The 2025 NFL Draft class has been crowned as one of the deeper groups in some time at the positions of need for the San Francisco 49ers. Defensive tackle is right at the top of the list, as we could see upwards of 15 defensive tackles selected in the first 100 picks.
Can the 49ers afford to wait until the third round to select one of these behemoths? Unlikely, as the depth chart calls for the Niners to double down at the position early as opposed to waiting and finding value.
We’ll go over one defensive tackle the 49ers should pursue in the first few rounds of the draft.
Round 1 – Kenneth Grant – Michigan
We haven’t talked about Grant as much. His teammate, Mason Graham, figures to be selected within the first ten picks. Grant is a target if the 49ers trade back or view him as further along in his development than others.
Grant might be the defensive tackle in this class that we all look back on 2-3 years from now and wonder why he wasn’t unanimously a top-15 pick.
For every exposure to Grant playing too high and getting thrown outta the club, there’s a play where the 331-pounder is the quickest player along the trenches and knifes his way into the backfield for a positive outcome for Michigan.
The athleticism is there, as are the flashes of winning multiple ways. But as of today, Grant may not be far enough along as a pure pass rusher for a team willing to pull the trigger on him early.
If you’re drafting Grant, it’ll take time. That’s not always a bad thing. You just need a plan. In the case of the 49ers, he’d play and learn on the fly.
Round 2 – Derrick Harmon – Oregon
Tyleik Williams – Ohio State
I’m not sure where Harmon will get drafted. I’ve seen him in the latter portion of the first round and fall beyond the 49ers’ pick in the second round. His average draft position in mocks is between 30 and 35.
Harmon is an interesting test case. In 2024, he more than tripled his number of quarterback hits from the previous two seasons despite playing around the same number of snaps.
But when you watch Harmon, he comes off as a player who will be in the league for a decade from now. He has a good feel for the game. He senses the double team coming, can hold his ground against different combination blocks, and wins enough of his 1-on-1s where you can’t help but picture Harmon getting a third contract.
Williams does not move like a human who weighs 334 pounds. His play strength resembles a sumo wrestler. Williams consistently resets the line of scrimmage and will forklift a guard out of the way if need be. But he’s far more than your typical nose tackle who eats up space. Williams has high-level first-step quickness, is aware of finding the ball, and, best of all, is the one usually making the play.
The primary reason you wouldn’t take Williams in the first round or top 50 picks is due to the number of plays you can get out of him. His ceiling might be 25-30 in an NFL game. At Ohio State, he came off the field. When Williams did get a chance to consistently rush the passer, he’d occasionally win, but more often than not, did not look like a player with a plan to rush the passer.
Round 3 – Darius Alexander – Toledo
Alfred Collins – Texas
Alexander looks like he’s 330 pounds, and even plays like it at times, so seeing him come in at 305 pounds with 52nd percentile hands was surprising. You can see his power and athleticism over the course of a game. Unlike most collegiate players, Alexander has a signature pass rush move. His issue is getting hung up after that move doesn’t work. Still, Alexander stood out during MAC play, which is a sign of a promising player.
Collins more than looks the part at 6’5 5/8,” and 332 pounds. His height, weight, wingspan, and arm length all put him above the 90th percentile. But the rest of his combine shows up when you watch Collins, specifically his vertical (13th percentile) and broad (fourth percentile) jumps. Collins is moved too easily for a player his size.
But you can also see him stand up opposing linemen, overwhelm tight ends, and line up everywhere along the defensive line. Collins seems like a solid rotational piece capable of becoming a starter if he gets stronger and develops more than a spin move.
Round 4 – Deone Walker – Kentucky
Omar Norman-Lott – Tennessee
If you’re new to Kentucky football, Walker was the 6’7 3/8”, 331-pounder. He’s a mammoth of a man. If your first guess was that a man this size was playing high and getting tired quickly, come collect your prize. But if you watch a cut-up of Walker when he wins, you’d blame us for not having him higher.
Fun fact: Walker is second in the class in quick pressure percentage. He has value, and it shows up often when he’s on the field. Inevitably, sustaining your motor, being disciplined, and controlling your body at that size will be a challenge.
Whatever tier you lump Walker in, he’s poised to be the best of the bunch. I’d take his hand usage over a handful of players listed above him. That’s a sign a player knows what he’s doing.
Norman-Lott has an uphill battle, both figuratively and literally, at 6’1 7/8” and 291 pounds. He’s undersized, but he has the arm length and hand size of somebody 3 inches taller and 20 pounds heavier.
The question for Norman-Lott is how he will win at the next level consistently at his size. How often will he play? Tennessee had a heavy rotation, and that meant Norman-Lott only played 225 snaps in 22024. But still managed four sacks and seven quarterback hits to go along with six tackles for loss and an elite pass rush win-rate of 18.9 percent.
It all makes Norman-Lott a fascinating prospect. Norman-Lott possesses transferrable traits that make me think he’ll perform closer to DT5 than DT10. I’d say he has first-round quickness, hand usage/placement, and a motor.
You’d take that type of player in today’s NFL every day of the week.