There’s a strong chance the San Francisco 49ers use the 2025 NFL draft as a means to improve their struggling defensive line.
In 2024 they had a hard time consistently getting pressure on the quarterback, and their inability to stop the run was the final nail in the coffin of a lost season.
NFL Media’s draft analyst, Daniel Jeremiah, in a conference call Thursday had some good news for San Francisco if they’re hoping to land a massive steal in Round 1 of the draft.
“Yeah, where they’re picking at 11, they’re going to be able to get a really good player,” Jeremiah said. “I’m curious, the one thing – we talked about him as one of the top players in the draft with Mason Graham. I’ll be curious to see how he goes through the spring. As I mentioned, I think his tape is so good, but I’m not sure he’s going to totally ace the spring part of it. If you are looking for someone who I think would be a home run pick for him, what’s the dream scenario, to me it would be Mason Graham were to fall down to them where they could scoop him up and pick him up.”
Graham was sensational for the Michigan Wolverines during his three-year career. He’s a nightmare for offensive lines on the interior thanks to his motor and athleticism. Graham in his three seasons racked up 108 tackles, 18 tackles for loss and 8.0 sacks in 39 games.
Jeremiah in that conference call laid out why he believes Graham is one of the best players in this year’s class.
“I watched him on tape and I fell in love with him, and then I got a chance to go to their game against Oregon,” Jeremiah said. “A bunch of personnel guys and GMs down on the field. We’re walking down there, and I see Mason Graham walk by. Of course, he is next to Kenneth Grant, his teammate, who it looks like he’s a cartoon character. He’s an Adonis how big he is. I’m looking at Mason Graham and body type, and I’m, like, gosh, maybe I need to adjust my grade. Maybe I’m just too high on this guy.
“Then I proceeded to watch the game, and I was, like, ‘nope, nope, he’s just really, really good.’ So I hope people don’t overthink it with him as we get to the spring and kind of the further we get away from football, but he’s got crazy, elite leverage, balance, and instincts.”
The 49ers are hoping teams overthink it to the point that Graham, a frequent top-five pick in mock drafts, falls to them at No. 11. If he does, it would erase any real question about what direction they’ll go with that pick, and it may be the selection that most dramatically transforms their defensive line in 2025.