The 49ers are showing significant interest in defensive lineman at the Combine this year.
Heading into the offseason, it’s no surprise that the San Francisco 49ers are in need of defensive linemen, with both edge rushers and defensive tackles being priorities heading into free agency and the NFL Draft.
While the need, especially on the interior, is a pressing one, San Francisco is well-equipped to find quality replacements, as they have the No. 11 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, while also holding seven picks in the first four rounds.
The 49ers are looking to get younger, and have a big opportunity to do so with the draft this year, potentially even doubling down along the defensive line to get game-changers for the future.
On the first day of NFL Combine interviews with the media, it was apparent that the 49ers have done their due diligence on defensive linemen in the 2025 NFL Draft, setting up official visits with a good group of the top players.
That includes Ole Miss’s Walter Nolen, who came away excited from the meeting, given that he was a 49ers fan growing up.
But, elsewhere, a pair of first-round-caliber edge rushers were in the mix as well: Tennessee’s James Pearce Jr. and Texas A&M’s Nic Scourton.
Pearce, one of the more polarizing prospects to evaluate in the upcoming draft, has been highly-regarded for years, and would be a good fit on the edge opposite of Nick Bosa with his athletic ability at 6’5, 245 pounds.
He held a formal meeting with the 49ers at the Combine this week, signifying a level of interest in the edge rusher, who could be an option with the No. 11 pick.
Pearce, who stands 6’5, 243 pounds, has explosiveness and the speed-to-power that Nick Bosa thrives off, according to scouts, which could make him a good fit in the Wide 9 system.
“Pearce is a tight-hipped, linear pass rusher with explosive take-offs and good speed-to-power but a lack of bend to flatten at the top. His high pressure rate is partially derived from an instinctive feel for positioning, allowing him to work around protection for quick wins into the pocket,” NFL Network’s Lance Zierlein wrote.
“He’s very long but narrow through his hips, so the build-out of his frame might be limited. Pearce knows how to play around blocks and has the speed to close and tackle, but his base is naturally narrow and lacks bend. He’ll need to improve his strength and technique as an NFL run defender. Despite those concerns, Pearce’s length, twitch and rush production create a higher ceiling.”
Scourton, on the other hand, is a bigger edge rusher who bulked up to 285 pounds to play on the interior at Texas A&M last year. He is now back down to 265 pounds to play his preferred position of edge, but possesses some versatility, which the 49ers like at the position.
While he could be perceived as a bit of a reach at No. 11, there’s a clear interest in evaluating the top talent at defensive end, with Scourton being among that group of players.
At defensive tackle, Ole Miss’s Walter Nolen, Indiana’s C.J. West, and Texas A&M’s Shemar Turner all shared they met with the 49ers formally at the combine.
Nolen, in line to be one of the first three defensive tackles off the board in April, would be a good fit for San Francisco as a strong run defender with pass-rushing upside.
West and Turner could be mid-round fits, indicating that San Francisco is looking all over the board at defensive line this year, setting up for them to double-down at the position in 2025.
On the first day of prospect interviews, one thing became clear: the 49ers are in on quite a few defensive linemen in this year’s draft class, looking to address a big need with some youth.