Your daily San Francisco 49ers news for Thursday, April 24th, 2025
49ers’ George Kittle refutes report linking offseason absence to contract dispute
“Kittle’s absence from the voluntary portion of the 49ers’ offseason program is not out of the ordinary. In the past, the veteran tight end said he traditionally trains in Nashville, Tennessee, during this phase of the offseason and typically joins the team once on-field work begins.
Russini’s report suggested that Kittle’s decision to stay away this year had more to do with ongoing contract negotiations than previously believed.”
49ers’ secret to getting a better read on NFL Draft prospects? Topgolf and intern intel (paywall)
The visits include a 30-minute sit-down meeting with Shanahan in his office. He said he doesn’t put too much stock into those since most prospects will put on the best face possible in front of the head coach.
So he also seeks input from non-traditional sources. He wants to know how a prospect acted in the waiting area while Shanahan wrapped up the previous interview. He talks to the intern who escorts the players to and from the headquarters building and Levi’s Stadium. He wants the shuttle drivers’ feedback on what the players were like when they were driven back to the team hotel that evening…
The visits end with a group trip to nearby Topgolf…The goal is to get a sense of how a prospect interacts in a group setting and a hint of what he might be like in an NFL locker room.
“I just like to see how they carry themselves,” Shanahan said. “Are they one of the dudes? Do they hang out on their own? Are they just on their phones all the time? And there’s no right or wrong answer. I’ve had guys who are anti-social who are awesome. And some guys who get along with everyone who end up being a problem. But you can kind of get a feel for who they are throughout the day when they’re talking to everyone and then end the day at a place like (Topgolf) where you can kind of relax.”
Shanahan said he likes to lay low and observe the players, especially those who arrive with character questions.
“I might go up to a guy and mess with him about his golf swing and make fun of him a little bit, see how he reacts toward me,” he said. “It’s just trying to get guys out of their element so that you have an idea of what type of dude they are and get them out of interview mode.”
Who’s the 49ers’ pick at No. 11? Their draft history and roster provide strong clues (paywall)
“If they are eyeing an edge rusher, it’s notable what Lynch said Tuesday when asked about the traits the 49ers are seeking at the position. Lynch began by highlighting the ability to set the edge, which refers to the ability for a defensive end to turn running plays inside by holding their position on the outside. Floyd, 6-foot-3 and 240 pounds, ranked second on the 49ers with 8.5 sacks last season, but edge-setting has never been his specialty.
“You’ve got to have the ability to set a firm edge,” Lynch said. “… That’s something we covet.”
And that’s something that requires strength and a stout frame like that of Bosa, an elite run defender who is 6-4 and 266 pounds. Two edge rushers with the same dimensions, Georgia’s Mykel Williams and Texas A&M’s Shemar Stewart, both 6-5 and 267 pounds, could be available when the 49ers are on the clock.
Williams and Stewart are also similar in this sense: They have first-round physical traits, but they had later-round college production. Williams, who has gas-hose arms (82 7/8-inch wingspan), had 14 sacks in 40 games. Stewart, who has run a 4.59-second 40-yard dash, had 4.5 sacks in 37 games.
Williams was part of a deep defensive-line rotation and was hampered by a high ankle sprain that sidelined him for two games in 2024, when he had five sacks. Stewart was disruptive last year, collecting a team-high 39 QB pressures.
Maiocco’s NFL mock draft 6.0: 49ers select Texas A&M DE Stewart
“Stewart has incredible blends of size (6-foot-5, 267 pounds), strength, speed (4.59 in the 40-yard dash), agility, athleticism (40-inch vertical) and motor. The 49ers should not be scared off by his lack of production. Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh will believe he can get the most out of Stewart’s ability, which would make this selection a home run.
His 4.5 sacks over three seasons is a concern. But the draft is not about what a player does in college; it’s about what he does in the NFL. Stewart is difficult to pass up because of his unique traits.”
Kawakami: No more drama. The 49ers have an obvious path at pick No. 11
“I believe the 49ers should and will take the best defensive lineman who gets to them at pick No. 11 — whether Michigan’s Mason Graham surprisingly slips out of the top 10, Georgia’s Mykel Williams strikes the 49ers’ schematic fancy, Texas A&M’s Shemar Stewart’s eye-popping athleticism catches their eye, or somebody else such as Oregon’s Derrick Harmon or Ole Miss’ Walter Nolen leaps to the top of their defensive line wish list….I’m guessing that the best match at 11 is Stewart, who has the athleticism and size of an All-Pro defensive end but had replacement-level statistics in college…If it’s not Stewart, it might be Williams, who fits the same run-pass model as Stewart with a bit more college production.”
Are Stewart’s traits worthy of 49ers’ No. 11 pick in NFL draft?
“I wasn’t a sack-chasing warrior,” he said. “I just wanted to become the best player for my team. And sometimes the stats don’t show that.
“Sometimes the stats don’t tell the whole story. It’s all about the film. And when you look at the film, you can really see what’s going on for the most part. Production is a little overrated.”