Under Kyle Shanahan, the San Francisco 49ers have either made the final four of the postseason or completely bottomed out. After a Super Bowl loss ended 2023, the 2024 season didn’t represent an end of that trend. Injuries and exhaustion saw Shanahan’s squad slump to a 6-11 record.

Though the 49ers have some decisions to make in the offseason, like what to do with Deebo Samuel, they do still have the foundation of a genuine contender. With the 11th overall pick and eight total picks, including a trio of day two picks, the Niners have an opportunity to bolster what is already a talent rich roster.

Ahead of April’s draft, take a look at the San Francisco 49ers’ 2025 NFL Draft outlook.

San Francisco 49ers Needs & Draft Strategy

Since John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan took charge of the San Francisco 49ers, they’ve displayed a consistent philosophy when selecting high. Drafting players at premium positions — Nick Bosa, Solomon Thomas, and Trey Lance — has been the Niners’ brain trust’s strategy in the instances they pick high. On the fringe of the top 10, I would expect the 49ers to roll that approach back.

In that sense, San Francisco’s biggest need is at cornerback. It was forced to start Isaac Yiadom and Renardo Green last year, as starters Deommodore Lenoir and Charvarious Ward both dealt with injuries. As a defense, the 49ers finished 12th in Expected Points Added against the pass last year, but a massive need is opening.

Ward, the 49ers’ lockdown corner, is a pending free agent and the team is expected to help facilitate his exit one way or another, after the player dealt with personal tragedy during the season. With little else to count on behind him, the team is effectively starting anew at corner.

Sticking on defense, the Niners’ second-biggest need is along the line at defensive tackle. They were terrible defending the run last year, finishing 28th in Expected Points Added on the ground.

Though their best interior defender, Javon Hargrave, was lost for the season after just three games, he is expected to be released. As evidenced by their woeful 2024, the 49ers’ run defense is a hollow unit with Hargrave’s presence.

San Francisco doesn’t need to look far for its third most pressing need, either. While it can count on Nick Bosa to own one side of the line, it lacks edge rushers beyond the former Defensive Player of the Year. Veteran Leonard Floyd drew the role last year and did well, with 8.5 sacks and 16 QB hits, but he’s headed into his age 33 season and is a free agent.

With Bosa fighting injury pretty consistently, the 49ers would be served well to bring in a secondary pass rush threat who can play opposite Bosa and aid a defense that finished 24th in total sacks last season.

Potential San Francisco 49ers Draft Picks 2025

Armed with the 11th overall pick and set to benefit from the luxury of not needing a quarterback, the San Francisco 49ers should have their pick of the cornerback class, with the exception of Heisman winner Travis Hunter.

With that notion, two potential picks stand out. Both Michigan’s Will Johnson and Notre Dame’s Benjamin Morrison would be worthy, exciting selections at 11. Both have the type of size and physicality the Niners have consistently sought at corner. By most measures, Johnson is the superior prospect, but Morrison would be a perfectly acceptable consolation prize.

If San Francisco intends to beef up the interior of its defensive line on day two, a few players stand out as space-eating tackles who will help against the run. Unsurprisingly, all three come from the Big Ten, where running attacks are king.

Tyleik Williams, from Ohio State, should sneak into round one, but if he is crowded out by other positions, the 49ers would love to climb up the board and add him to a talented roster. Alternatively, the versatile and quick-footed Derrick Harmon, from Oregon, is a worthy consolation. So too would be Kenneth Grant, from Michigan, who could exploit offensive lines sliding to Nick Bosa’s side by penetrating with his great first step.

With Bosa in place, San Francisco’s likely to wait on an edge rusher until later on day two. And, with Bosa often aligning wide, it’ll search for a bit of a bigger edge player who can play over the tackle. With that range, and those characteristics, in mind, a few players stand out.

Oregon’s Jordan Branch, Ohio State’s Jack Sawyer, and Louisville’s Ashton Gillotte are three power rushers with the kind of size that would lend itself to a tighter alignment opposite Bosa.

If the Niners can leave Friday night on draft weekend with a corner, defensive tackle, and edge rusher in their hands, they will be thrilled.