Let’s be honest: being a fan of the Red and Gold during draft weekend is an absolute rollercoaster. You’ve got the high of finding a franchise-altering quarterback with the very last pick in the draft, and then the gut-punch realization that three first-rounders were set on fire for a guy who’s now a backup in Los Angeles. It’s chaotic. But if you look at the recent san francisco nfl draft picks, a very specific, almost stubborn pattern emerges that tells you exactly how John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan view the game in 2026.
They aren't just drafting players. They’re drafting a specific type of insurance.
Why the 2025 Draft Was a Defensive Overhaul
The 2024 season was rough. A 6-11 finish is a tough pill to swallow for a team that was just in the Super Bowl a year prior. Injuries to Dre Greenlaw and the departure of Charvarius Ward left the cupboard looking pretty bare. So, what did the front office do? They went defense. Hard.
For the first time since 1981—the year they drafted Ronnie Lott and basically started a dynasty—the 49ers used their first five picks exclusively on defensive players. It started with Mykel Williams, the edge rusher out of Georgia, at number 11. He’s got that freakish length they love. Then came Alfred Collins, a massive human being from Texas who was supposed to fix the run defense.
The critics, though? They were loud.
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Honestly, the biggest gripe was the offensive line. While fans were screaming for a tackle to eventually replace Trent Williams, Lynch waited until the seventh round to grab Connor Colby. It’s a risky game. They’re betting that their current coaching can turn mid-round guys like Dominick Puni—who actually looked like a stud at right guard in 2024—into long-term starters.
The 2025 Draft Class at a Glance
- Round 1 (11): Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia.
- Round 2 (43): Alfred Collins, DT, Texas.
- Round 3 (75): Nick Martin, LB, Oklahoma State.
- Round 3 (100): Upton Stout, CB, Western Kentucky.
- Round 4 (113): CJ West, DT, Indiana.
- Day 3 Notable: Kurtis Rourke (QB, Indiana) and Jordan James (RB, Oregon).
The "Mr. Irrelevant" Shadow
You can't talk about san francisco nfl draft picks without mentioning Brock Purdy. He’s the ghost that haunts every draft room in Santa Clara. Because they found him at pick 262 in 2022, there’s this weird internal confidence that they can find gold in the dirt anywhere.
Sometimes it works. Sometimes you get Trey Sermon or Tyrion Davis-Price, running backs who cost high picks and basically vanished.
But look at the 2024 class. It actually looks... good? Ricky Pearsall (Round 1) and Renardo Green (Round 2) started showing real flashes. Pearsall, especially, became a vital safety valve when Deebo Samuel was out. And Malik Mustapha? The kid plays like a heat-seeking missile. He’s exactly the kind of "cheap labor" the 49ers need while they prepare to pay Purdy a historic amount of money.
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What Most People Get Wrong About the Strategy
People think the 49ers are bad at drafting because of the Trey Lance trade. Statistically, yeah, that was a disaster. According to Sportradar data from late 2025, the 49ers only kept about 47% of their picks from 2021-2024 on the roster. That’s low. It’s actually one of the lowest in the league for a team that hasn't changed its GM or Head Coach.
But here’s the nuance: They don't value "average" depth.
If a draft pick isn't a potential All-Pro like Fred Warner or Talanoa Hufanga, they’re fine with letting them walk and replacing them with a vet on a minimum deal or another late-round flyer. They swing for the fences. When they hit (Kittle, Bosa, Warner), they win. When they miss, they miss spectacularly.
The Alfred Collins X-Factor
Right now, in January 2026, all eyes are on the Divisional Round matchup against Seattle. The rookie that’s causing the most stress? Alfred Collins.
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He hasn't had a great year. Pro Football Focus actually gave him one of the worst run-defense grades for a qualifying defensive tackle earlier this season. It's sort of ironic, considering he was drafted specifically to stop the run. But with the defensive line banged up, the 49ers need him to play like a second-round pick. If he can’t hold the gap, the defense falls apart.
Future Outlook: The 2026 Picks
Moving forward, the 49ers are going to be in "comp pick" heaven. Because they lost guys like Hufanga (Denver) and Aaron Banks (Green Bay) to massive free-agent deals, they’re projected to have a haul of extra selections in the 2026 draft.
They also picked up Skyy Moore from the Chiefs and Brian Robinson from the Commanders in trades, which cost them some 2026 and 2027 capital. Basically, they’re shifting from "build through the draft" to "supplement the stars with the draft."
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you're trying to predict what the 49ers will do next, stop looking at the "Best Player Available" boards. Instead, look at these three things:
- The 10-Yard Split: Lynch is obsessed with explosive first steps for defensive linemen. If a guy is slow off the ball, he’s not a Niner.
- Positional Versatility: On the O-line, they want guys who played tackle in college but have the frame to move to guard (like Dominick Puni).
- The Purdy Tax: Every pick from here on out is about finding starters on rookie contracts to offset the $50M+ per year they’ll eventually pay their QB.
The days of trading away the entire farm for one player are likely over. The lesson was learned. Now, it’s about volume—getting 10 or 11 picks in a class and hoping three of them turn into foundational pieces.
Watch the development of Upton Stout and Mykel Williams through the rest of this 2026 postseason. If those two hit their ceiling, the 2025 draft will be remembered as the moment the 49ers defense got its teeth back. If they don't? It’s back to the drawing board in April.