Your daily San Francisco 49ers news for Friday, January 17th, 2025
49ers bolster defensive front in latest CBS Sports mock draft
“During his three seasons at Texas A&M, Stewart (6-6, 290) accumulated 65 tackles (12 for a loss), 4.5 sacks, four passes defensed, and one forced fumble.
In 2024, Stewart posted a career-best 79.4 overall defensive grade from Pro Football Focus, highlighted by an impressive 88.9 run-defense grade. He also ranked second on the team with 33 pressures.”
Draft analyst believes Oregon tackle would be a good fit for 49ers
“While Miller believes the 11th overall pick might be too early for the selection, he feels that Oregon offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr. could be an excellent addition to the 49ers’ blocking scheme.
“Former HS running back turned left tackle and you see that athletic ability in his footwork and movement,” Miller wrote on social media. “Thought his development this year was really, really good.’
49ers mock draft reaction: Will tackle Armand Membou measure up to team’s standard? (paywall)
“Membou’s athleticism jumps off the screen. You see him getting out in space, getting ahead of defensive linemen and walling them off, and you think he’d be an excellent fit in a 49ers’ zone-blocking scheme that emphasizes quickness and footwork.
The question is his size. As Brugler suggests in his summary, Membou is one of the many guard-tackle ’tweeners in this year’s draft class. Missouri lists him at 6 -foot-3 and 325 pounds, which makes him seem more like a guard. More important than his height is how long his arms will be when they’re measured later this month at the Senior Bowl….In the second round, Brugler moves to the other side of the line of scrimmage, sending Ole Miss defensive tackle Walter Nolen to the 49ers at pick No. 43.
Nolen is an incredible athlete, just the type of player defensive line coach Kris Kocurek is looking for in his aggressive scheme. If Kocurek wants someone who can fire off the line of scrimmage, get an angle on an offensive lineman and power into the backfield, he’d find that in Nolen. In 2024, he had 6 1/2 sacks, 14 tackles for loss and his 35 quarterback pressures tied for seventh most for an interior defensive lineman, according to Pro Football Focus.”
49ers’ road to relevance hinges on repeating success of 2024 draft (paywall)
“The hard-hitting rookie safety, a fourth-round pick, noted he’d opened eyes during his debut season. But he was just getting started. And he plans to progress from a solid contributor and become a star, along with other members of his draft class such as second-round cornerback Renardo Green and third-round guard Dominik Puni.
“Now it’s about me taking that next step to being one of the faces of this organization and taking us to the promised land,” Mustapha said. “That’s been my mindset. That’s Renardo’s mindset. I know that’s Puni’s mindset. I know that’s the rest of the rookie class’s mindsets.”