While the Niners often prioritize explosive gap-shooters, the 2025 season highlighted a need for more brute strength in the middle of the line to free up guys like Nick Bosa, when healthy, and 2025 first-rounder Mykel Williams.
For a front office that values a heavy and powerful defensive tackle profile seen in past hits like D.J. Jones, the 2026 class prototype leads directly to Tuscaloosa.
49ers target: Tim Keenan III, iDL, Alabama
If you were to design a defensive tackle to anchor the Niners’ Wide-9 front, he would look a lot like Keenan III. North of 320 lbs, Keenan is a wide-bodied space-eater who served as the immovable heart of the Alabama defense over the past three seasons.
The Fit: Keenan not only eats space, but is someone whose value goes far beyond the box score. His elite lower-body anchor allows him to hold the point of attack against double-teams, a necessity for a 49ers defense that needs its linebackers — like Fred Warner — to stay clean and hunt ball-carriers. While he isn’t a high-volume sack artist (three sacks in 2025), he is a violent run-defender with surprisingly quick hands and is someone whose presence would allow the Niners to rotate their pass-rush specialists more effectively without sacrificing run integrity.
Lynch/Shanahan Factor: GM John Lynch has a clear pattern of targeting high-character, battle-tested leaders from powerhouse programs. Keenan, a permanent team captain for Alabama, checks every intangibles box. Despite his frame that has room for added muscle mass, he shed 65 pounds during his college career to reach his optimal play weight, demonstrating the professional discipline the 49ers demand from their interior linemen.
Why the NFL Combine Matters
For Keenan, the NFL Combine is about his short-area quickness. In the Niners’ scheme, interior players must still be able to get off the ball and win at angles.
All eyes will remain on his 10-yard split and short-shuttle times to see if he has the lateral agility to fit a one-gap system. If he shows the suddenness to match his power, he could solidify himself as an ideal mid-round successor to fortify San Francisco’s defensive interior for years to come.
