The 2024 season didn’t go as planned for the San Francisco 49ers. After finishing with a 6-11 record, the team now holds the No. 11 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft — with a wide range of options on the table.
Armed with four picks inside the Top 100 and a trade-up in the third round, this 7-round mock draft by PFSN’s Ian Cummings has the 49ers addressing their biggest need — the defensive line — while also landing a potential replacement for Dre Greenlaw.
11) Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon
“A lot of teams in the late teens and early 20s would be fawning over the chance to add Derrick Harmon,” Cummings wrote. “I don’t know if he makes it that far. Prospects who simultaneously have such a high floor and such a high ceiling don’t often last long. The 49ers need him badly.”
San Francisco has next to no proven utility on the defensive interior, and Harmon can be their new anchor to orbit around. At 6’4 1/2″ and 313 pounds, with over 34″ arms, he has the strength to hold strong in the run game, and he’s a violent, high-motor pass-rusher.
43) Landon Jackson, EDGE, Arkansas
“Profiling best as an even-front defensive end, Landon Jackson possesses a rare mix of size, length, burst, and bend, and there are bright flashes of hand proficiency on tape,” Cummings commented about the Arkansas prospect.
Looking ahead to 2025, the 49ers are currently projected to open the season with Yetur Gross-Matos starting opposite Nick Bosa at edge. While Gross-Matos offers some upside, San Francisco will likely look to add another edge rusher who can complement Bosa and form a disruptive duo capable of consistently pressuring opposing quarterbacks.
75) Demetrius Knight Jr., LB, South Carolina
Replacing Dre Greenlaw will be difficult, but Demetrius Knight Jr. has the size profile, downhill explosiveness, physicality, and conversion ability to make an imprint.
With Dre Greenlaw departing in free agency and Robert Saleh now back in San Francisco — a coach known for his Cover 3 schemes that rely on physical linebackers — Knight Jr. could be exactly the type of addition the 49ers need to pair alongside Fred Warner.
89) Elic Ayomanor, WR, Stanford
Projected Trade: 49ers receive 89th pick; Texans receive 100th pick, 113th pick
“The 49ers trade up with a familiar team to snag Elic Ayomanor, a high-upside WR who only needs the right coaching and insulation to become a diverse, domineering playmaker.”
Ayomanor brings great size and ideal physical traits for the position, showing the ability to produce against both press coverage and zone defenses. To become a more consistent target at the NFL level, he’ll need to work on limiting drops and sharpening his route breaks.
138) Bryce Cabeldue, OL, Kansas
San Francisco lands its offensive lineman. Cabeldue projects as a guard at the NFL level and stands out for his disciplined hands and solid footwork, especially in run-blocking schemes. The main concern is that he never played guard in college, which raises some questions about how smooth his transition to the position will be.
147) Zah Frazier, CB, UTSA
Frazier is a 24-year-old prospect with good size for the position, impressive speed, quick acceleration, and solid ball skills. However, despite his age, he has only 10 career starts, which could cause him to slide in the draft and require significant development at the NFL level.
160) Elijah Roberts, DL, SMU
San Francisco needs all the help it can get along the defensive line this season, and Elijah Roberts could be a hidden gem at pick 160. He offers solid upside against the run and brings power off the snap, but will need to improve his athleticism and adjust to the speed of the NFL game.
227) Corey Kiner, RB, Cincinnati
Kyle Shanahan is known for reshuffling his running back committee each season, and after losing Christian McCaffrey for most of last year — while seeing what Jordan Mason and Isaac Guerendo could offer — drafting Kiner would be a move to keep the backfield versatile and effective.
249) Nick Nash, WR, San Jose State
Having previously played quarterback, Nash would be yet another seventh-round pick who transitioned to wide receiver — a type of player San Francisco has taken a chance on before, much like Jauan Jennings, who was selected under similar circumstances back in 2020.
252) Jackson Hawes, TE, Georgia Tech
Hawes is expected to be used primarily as a blocking tight end in specific packages, with good hands despite a limited route tree. He’ll likely need to fight for a spot on the practice squad.
