If the 49ers followed their modus operandi with Mykel Williams in Round 1, their Round 2 selection should be too simple.
Heading into the 2025 NFL Draft, the general consensus pointed at the San Francisco 49ers selecting a defensive lineman with their top pick, No. 11 overall.
It made plenty of sense. After an offseason full of departures across the roster, the defensive line emerged as the top need, boasting only defensive end Nick Bosa as a recognizable name.
Combined with the 2025 draft chock full of D-linemen, and the Niners’ longstanding priority of boasting an elite D-line under general manager John Lynch, it made more than enough sense for the 11th overall pick to be used on this position.
And that’s precisely what San Francisco did, grabbing Georgia defensive end Mykel Williams to kick off its 2025 draft class.
With the edge-rushing need no longer on the board, the 49ers shouldn’t have any issue deciding who’ll be their next priority target.
49ers need to go after Will Johnson in Round 2 of NFL Draft
Michigan cornerback Will Johnson is one of those surprise fallers from Round 1, who likely saw his draft stock take a hit after injury concerns rose after opting not to run at a recent workout in front of NFL scouts.
Despite those injury risks, when healthy, Johnson should have easily been considered a top-10 prospect, and even Mel Kiper Jr. twice mocked the former Wolverine defensive back to the Niners.
It’s not hard to understand why. The 2025 draft is full of quality defensive linemen, and San Francisco could still use some more. But the crop of cornerbacks is considerably thinner, and the 49ers need to find a plug-and-play replacement to pair with Deommodore Lenoir and Renardo Green after Charvarius Ward departed via free agency.
That was Kiper’s rationale, and it made sense.
Taking Johnson at No. 11 overall would have been risky, yes, in light of the injuries. But the Niners aiming for the cornerback to fall to their next pick, No. 43 overall, is far more reasonable and would instantly solve the still-present dilemma of replacing Ward. Plus, should San Francisco fear Johnson won’t make it beyond the first handful of second-round picks, a trade-up in Round 2 is far less costly than one executed in Round 1.
Some may argue the 49ers whiffed by not grabbing Johnson with their first pick.
They have a golden opportunity to still land him with their second.
