NFL analyst names a 49ers' Day 3 draft pick as someone who could compete for a starting role right off the bat
The San Francisco 49ers went into the 2025 NFL Draft with the clear goal of revamping their defense. They did just that, spending six of their first eight picks on the defensive side of the ball. Four of those selections were used within the front seven of the unit, after ranking 24 in sacks and […]
The San Francisco 49ers went into the 2025 NFL Draft with the clear goal of revamping their defense.
They did just that, spending six of their first eight picks on the defensive side of the ball. Four of those selections were used within the front seven of the unit, after ranking 24 in sacks and 18th against the run in 2024.
One of the 49ers' more underrated picks could be defensive tackle C.J. West, who they took in the fourth round (113th overall). NFL.com's Chad Reuter believes that West has the potential to compete for a starting role right off the bat as a rookie.
"The 49ers spent two picks in the first two rounds (Mykel Williams in the first and Alfred Collins the second) to bolster their thin D-line, and they continued the trend with West in Round 4. While Collins is a tall people-mover, West is a 6-foot-1, low center-of-gravity nose tackle with quick enough feet and hands to defeat blocks, making him a top-notch run defender." – Chad Reuter
West may be the only true nose tackle type of lineman that San Francisco has. He'll have to compete with Kevin Givens and Jordan Elliott for snaps, but neither of them were very good against the run last season.
In fact, Elliott ranked poorly as a whole against both the run and as a pass rusher, per Pro Football Focus. Givens provides some juice as a pass rusher, but ranked 190th out of 219 interior defensive linemen in run defense in 2024.
While sacks are the eye-popping stat, run defense is crucial. West can fill that void and be a perfect complement to pass rushers such as Nick Bosa and first-round pick Mykel Williams. West was one of the most athletic DT prospects in this year's draft class, coming in at third at the position in athleticism score during the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine.
San Francisco 49ers signed an undrafted free agent that the rest of the NFL made a mistake not selecting in the 2025 NFL Draft
The San Francisco 49ers added eleven players through the seven rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft. They have also added multiple undrafted free agents to finish up their rookie class. I, for one, am still shocked that one of their UDFAs, in particular, wasn't drafted. The 49ers signed Cincinnati RB Corey Kiner who went undrafted […]
