The San Francisco 49ers kicked off their 2025 NFL Draft class by focusing on the trenches and beefing up the defensive line. Their first-round pick, edge Mykel Williams, and second-round pick, defensive tackle Alfred Collins, are both solid additions who'll immediately improve what's been a porous run defense.
As returning defensive coordinator Robert Saleh looks to rebuild the defense starting from the trenches, it's understandable why the team made those picks.
The selections are a bit surprising, though, considering the players who were frequently mocked to the Niners by several pundits didn't make their way to San Francisco. Not too many saw the 49ers' top two players headed to the Bay Area.
Cardinals keep stealing would-be 49ers draft targets
Numerous mock drafts, including one from Mel Kiper Jr., had the Niners selecting Will Johnson, a top cornerback from Michigan, in the first round.
The 49ers passed on Johnson not once, but twice. Once projected as a first-round pick, injuries appeared to have lowered his draft stock.
Johnson fell to the Arizona Cardinals in the second round, No. 47 overall. He turned out to be the second player the Cardinals selected who was tied to San Francisco.
Defensive tackle Walter Nolen, out of Ole Miss, was linked to the 49ers in several mock drafts as well. ESPN's Peter Schrager was one of the folks who had Nolen going to San Francisco at pick No. 11 in the first round.
Five picks after the 49ers selected Williams, the Cardinals grabbed Nolen.
While the Niners' two picks may have been a bit surprising, Williams and Collins should provide some much-needed energy to a defensive line depleted in free agency, although it's fair to question whether or not San Francisco's NFC West rivals out in the desert took full advantage of it.