The 49ers need pass-rushing help in this year's NFL Draft, and CBS Sports feels it has the perfect first-round player in mind.
The San Francisco 49ers need to hit a few home runs in the NFL Draft later this month, given the large-scale exodus of talent and the relative inactivity to replace them.
If one had to identify the biggest area of need, it'd almost assuredly be the defensive line, which suffered more than its fair share of departures this offseason and will barely be able to put together a proper depth chart as things stand right now.
The Niners need both outside edge rushers and interior defensive tackles, so it's a good thing this year's draft has plenty of talent in both areas through all seven rounds.
And it wouldn't be a shock whatsoever if San Francisco kicked off the first of its 11 scheduled picks with a defensive lineman.
Perhaps an outside pass-rusher to pair with the All-Pro, Nick Bosa.
Not surprisingly, that's what CBS Sports' Douglas Clawson and Ryan McGrady feel the 49ers will do with their top pick.
CBS Sports: James Pearce is 49ers' perfect fit in Round 1 of NFL Draft
Clawson and McGrady combed through all 32 picks and singled out a few "perfect" fits for teams in the exact spot where those players were likely to be drafted, and the Niners ended up being one of five plausible candidates.
At No. 11 overall, the CBS Sports duo felt Tennessee edge James Pearce Jr. would not only be a great get, but he'd also be an ideal home-run fit for San Francisco and returning defensive coordinator Robert Saleh:
"Assuming they are looking for immediate production, I believe Saleh and company will have their eyes on Tennessee edge rusher James Pearce Jr., who led or co-led the SEC in sacks (17.5), tackles for loss (28.0) and pressures (107) in the last two seasons. He also posted the fastest 40 time (4.47 seconds) and 10-yard split (1.56 seconds) among edge rushers at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine. He's a bit undersized (245 pounds), but that didn't stop Saleh from drafting Will McDonald (236 pounds) in the first round as the Jets head coach in 2023. "
Pearce currently ranks at No. 16 overall on fellow CBS Sports draft insider Ryan Wilson's top-100 big board, but the fluidity of talent between the 11th and 50th picks (and their respective prospects) is enough to suggest this matters little.
If anything, getting the right fit is probably more important.
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Plus, the 49ers have tried (and mostly failed) to land a long-term counterpart to Bosa ever since 2019, coming close with the oft-injured Dee Ford while experimenting largely with castoff veterans and low-budget fill-ins.
If Pearce is the target and winds up thriving, the Niners can cross off the need for a one-two outside pass-rushing tandem for a long, long time.