Regardless of whether the San Francisco 49ers' 2024 campaign extends into the postseason, it's become increasingly clear they need to boost their defensive line this offseason.

The 49ers could certainly use some more depth at edge rusher, but they at least have two productive starters at that spot in Nick Bosa and Leonard Floyd, and a semblance of a rotation with Yetur Gross-Matos, Sam Okuyainonu and Robert Beal Jr. 

It is the interior that has been continually exposed in 2024, especially since Javon Hargrave went down with a torn biceps muscle in Week 3. 

Hargrave looms as a potential cap casualty for the Niners this offseason, when they could well make Brock Purdy one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in the NFL, so the defensive interior figures to be an area of focus for San Francisco in free agency and the draft. 

And A to Z Sports' AJ Schulte has the 49ers addressing it in the first round of the 2025 draft by taking a defensive tackle from a school that has provided them with two long-term starters at the position.

In Schulte's latest mock, the 49ers use the 17th overall pick on Derrick Harmon from Oregon.

He writes of Harmon: 

"Derrick Harmon has skyrocketed up boards this season as the leader for the Ducks' defense. He plays a little too tall, but he's a violent and physical run defender who flashes an effective swim move while getting after the quarterback. Harmon would add a real physical presence to the 49ers' defensive line that they have missed since trading away former Oregon Duck DeForest Buckner."

Having transferred from Michigan State, Harmon has seven tackles for loss and three sacks this season. On top of that, he has four pass breakups and a pair of forced fumbles.

It is his play against the run that may appeal the most, with San Francisco's interior defensive line consistently struggling to hold its own in run defense in 2024.

Were the 49ers to select Harmon, he would not be the first Oregon Duck defensive tackle taken with the 17th overall pick by San Francisco.

The Niners used the same pick on Arik Armstead in 2015. Armstead was the 49ers' longest-tenured player prior to being released this past offseason after failing to agree to a restructured contract.

San Francisco struck gold with Buckner when they selected him with the seventh overall pick in 2016. He was a two-time Pro Bowler with the 49ers and, alongside former Oregon teammate Armstead, played a key role in San Francisco's surge to Super Bowl 54 in the 2019 season. Buckner was traded to the Indianapolis Colts in 2020.

More recently, the 49ers found success taking another Duck to bolster a different area of the defense, with cornerback Deommodore Lenoir blossoming into a top-tier corner having been picked in the fifth round in 2021. Lenoir signed a five-year extension this month.

As such, the 49ers have plenty of reason to be confident in looking to Oregon to bolster to their defense. Given their struggles up front this season, the selection of Harmon is one that would make a lot of sense.

49ers could be eliminated from one postseason scenario with defeat to Bills in Week 13 matchup

It sums up a disappointing year.