Day 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft came and went on Friday night. Many teams added talent they believe could make an immediate impact on the field. That includes the San Francisco 49ers, who made three picks during the second and third rounds.
Some analysts praised the 49ers for their selections. Second-round pick Alfred Collins especially garnered positive attention. However, the other Day 2 picks were not so well received. PFSN provided the 49ers with less-than-stellar grades for their final two picks of the night.
Did the 49ers Reach Multiple Times on Day 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft?
San Francisco’s second pick of Day 2 came in the third round. With the 75th pick, the team selected Nick Martin, a linebacker from Oklahoma State.
“Linebacker was one of the 49ers’ many defensive needs after losing Dre Greenlaw in free agency. However, in picking Nick Martin, San Francisco reached for an undersized player many viewed as more of a Day 3 prospect,” PFSN said of the selection.
“Martin had a terrific 2023 season in Stillwater, Okla., leading the Big 12 with 140 tackles for the Cowboys. However, he played only five games in 2024 due to a knee injury, and comes with significant size concerns at 5’11” and 221 pounds.”
Martin fits what the team looks for out of their linebackers in terms of speed. However, he was not seen as a Day 2 prospect by most evaluators. PFSN had the Oklahoma State star ranked 218th on its big board. Outside evaluators, such as The Athletic, gave Martin a fifth-round grade.
Of course, it’s hard to know exactly why Martin went when he did. There could have been other teams below them that wanted the undersized linebacker in the third round. For now, it feels like this was a reach for a guy they held in high regard.
San Francisco made another selection in the third round, sticking with the defensive side of the ball. With the 100th pick of the 2025 NFL Draft, the 49ers selected Upton Stout, a cornerback out of Western Kentucky.
“The 49ers aren’t shy about following their board in the Day 2 range. Every year, John Lynch has eyebrow-raising picks in this area of the board, and this cycle is no different,” PFSN said of the pick.
“Upton Stout is a good player and could settle in nicely as a nickel defender alongside Deommodore Lenoir and Renardo Green, but this is still a major reach with other options available.”
There are certainly things to like about Stout. He is an aggressive and confident corner who can make plays on the ball. He is very methodical in his movements, never making unnecessary decisions on the field. He has drawn some comparisons to current Detroit Lions corner Avonte Maddox.
In saying this, Stout is once again a player many viewed as a Day 3 candidate. PFSN had him ranked 223rd on their big board entering the draft. San Francisco clearly has decided to take the players they love and worry about the rest later. Still, it’s hard to ignore the players they left on the board who may have been better fits or value picks.
