Former Indiana defensive tackle C.J. West quickly endeared himself to San Francisco 49ers fans shortly after being selected in Round 4 of the 2025 NFL Draft. And there was immediate hope the 6-foot-1 and 316-pound lineman could be a gap-plugging force with some pass-rushing prowess right out of the gate.
Unfortunately for West, that hope quickly faded in year one.
West appeared in 14 games his rookie year but couldn't crack the starting lineup. He ultimately logged 21 tackles, two of which for a loss, and a sack. But the fact he appeared on a little less than a third of the defense's total snaps reveals he wasn't anything close to being a difference maker.
In fact, Pro Football Focus gave West a lowly 39.7 overall grade—ranked No. 130 out of 134 qualifying interior defensive linemen, which suggests he was more of a liability than anything else.
Now, in the light of several offseason moves the Niners made for the trenches, West is going to have an awfully difficult time digging himself out of that hole.
And that could end up being a major blow to his career.
49ers' D-line stockpiling this offseason endangers C.J. West
West wasn't the only underwhelming rookie D-lineman a year ago. San Francisco's Round 2 pick, Alfred Collins, also struggled despite flashes of brilliance here and there. But Collins' status as a second-round pick offers a bit more leeway toward his development.
That said, the 49ers spent considerable effort trying to upgrade the interior of their D-line, highlighted by the blockbuster trade with the Dallas Cowboys for Osa Odighizuwa, who'll get a prime amount of defensive snaps, as well as using another Round 4 pick on the promising defensive tackle out of Oklahoma, Gracen Halton.
Halton, despite dealing with a minor injury in training camp, might even threaten Collins for a primary spot on the depth chart.
As for West, he seems to now be pushed toward the periphery.
In one year's time, the promising defensive tackle appears to be little more than a fringe player who'll likely round out the bottom of the depth chart, at best, and that's an awfully tough spot to be in. And it's certainly detrimental to his career progression.
Granted, West is more of a true 1-technique player, so base-down formations with a nose tackle might still be his proverbial "bread and butter." Yet the Niners likely have little need to rely on West heavily this upcoming season unless they're beset by injuries or if the second-year pro takes a major leap from last year's underwhelming efforts.
West would certainly aim for the latter, proving his value despite being a disappointment in 2025 and in light of San Francisco's more recent roster changes.
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