The San Francisco 49ers have made a conscious decision to get younger and cheaper. That included allowing some top free agents to walk, like linebacker Dre Greenlaw and safety Talanoa Hufanga, and trade wide receiver Deebo Samuel away.

Now, it's time to give the roster an infusion of talent. And the draft is the way to do that. The 49ers enter the process with 11 picks, including six in the first four rounds.

In this exercise, we decided to make things spicier by trading down from 43 to 48 in the second round, adding a fourth-rounder in the process. That would compensate for the fifth-rounder the 49ers lost due to salary cap accounting errors.

First round, pick 11: EDGE Mike Green, Marshall

The Niners need an edge rusher opposite Nick Bosa, and it will be hard to find a more ready impact player than Green. He had elite numbers in pass rush win rate (20.2%), run stop rate (9.4%), sacks (17), and tackles for loss (23) last year. You could argue that his level of competition wasn't that high, but Green has every tool he needs to succeed as a pro.

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Second round, pick 48: CB Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky

Insanely fast cornerback, Hairson can play both man and zone coverage at a good level. There is still room for growth based on his technique, but the physical tools are overwhelming. The 49ers lost Charvarius Ward, Isaac Yiadom, Rock Ya-Sin, and Nick McCloud in free agency, so adding a high-end piece to the room is an ideal outcome.

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Third round, pick 75: DT T.J. Sanders, South Carolina

Elite athlete and interior pass rusher, Sanders would help rebuild the 49ers' defensive line. He had a 12.6% pass rush win rate, which is one the best among DT prospects. Not a great run defender, but a disruptive player.

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Third round, pick 100: G Miles Frazier, LSU

The 49ers lost Aaron Banks in free agency, so now Bem Bartch is slated to start at left guard. The team could add competition with Frazier, a massive player with power and room for development. He was primarily a right guard in his final two seasons, but he was a left guard in 2022 and also had tackle snaps throughout his college career.

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Fourth round, pick 113: DT Omarr Norman-Lott, Tennessee

As aforementioned, San Francisco needs bodies and quality on the interior of the defensive line, and Norman-Lott is a good fit for Robert Saleh's defense based on his ability to generate pressure. He also offers alignment versatility, playing primarily as a 3-tech, but with the flexibility to move to nose in a pinch or even as a 5-tech.

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Fourth round, pick 116: WR Dont'e Thornton, Tennessee

The 49ers have Brandon Aiyuk as their X receiver, Thornton could fight to be the Z. A tall player, he has the quickness to create separation, even though his underneath route-running needs work.

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Fourth round, pick 138: T Chase Lundt, UConn

Kyle Shanahan will love this guy. He's not necessarily a big player, but his athleticism and power make him a top run blocker. Lundt was a right tackle in college, and adding an option to challenge Colton McKivitz is intriguing.

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Fifth round, pick 147: EDGE Fadil Diggs, Syracuse

Diggs is a rotational player, because his performance against the run is not ideal. But as a situational pass rusher, he can create havoc. With long strides, he can make life hard for opposing tackles, but also offers positional versatility and ability to play in the box.

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Fifth round, pick 160: RB Devin Neal, Kansas

The 49ers are considered a candidate to take Ashton Jeanty in the first, but taking Neal in the fifth might make sense based on positional value. Neal is extremely elusive and patient to run the ball, with 3.73 yards after the contact per attempt. He could go higher than that in the draft, but the class is so strong that talented backs will fall.

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Seventh round, pick 227: TE Luke Lachey, Iowa

Lachey isn't exactly an explosive alternative, but he is a reliable catcher with room to grow. His production wasn't great in college because he was a receiving tight end in a run-heavy offense, but he can be a secondary option and special teamer.

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Seventh round, pick 249: WR Ja'Corey Brooks, Louisville

Brooks was an efficient receiver for Tyler Shough, reaching 1,000 yards in his lone season at Louisville. Solid if unspectacular against man coverage, he had some issues with drops, but is a long receiver and uses his body well to beat cornerbacks.

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Seventh round, pick 252: QB Donovan Smith, Houston

The 49ers have Mac Jones as a high-floor backup for Brock Purdy, Smith would offer some ceiling. While Kyle Shanahan doesn't have much patience with developmental quarterbacks, Smith offers athleticism to grow, and the 49ers don't need to hurry him by any means.

San Francisco 49ers top 30 pre-draft visits live tracker as they get one last look at prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft class

Like the rest of the NFL, the San Francisco 49ers are finishing up their final evaluations ahead of the 2025 NFL draft, which kicks off in under two weeks. The 49ers have been able to meet with prospects at multiple milestones throughout the draft cycle, such as the Senior Bowl, Scouting Combine, and individual college […]