Projecting roles for each 49ers pick in the 2025 draft

The San Francisco 49ers got the easy part of the way when they made their 11 picks in the 2025 NFL draft. Now comes the hard part of maximizing those players as they make the transition to the pros.

Ideally the 49ers would draft 11 starters this year, but the chances of a perfect draft like that are nil. They can get some contributions from their entire class in 2025, though. We went through and tried to pin down roles for each of their selections in this year’s draft:

Round 1, Pick 11: DE Mykel Williams

Regardless of where his pass rush production is in Year 1, Williams should be a starting defensive end for San Francisco. He should immediately help their run defense and his pass rush skill set is good enough that it shouldn’t prohibit him from taking over Leonard Floyd’s starting DE job.

Projected role: Starting DE

Round 2, Pick 43: DT Alfred Collins

Depth on the interior of the defensive line was a must, but they also needed to add at least one starting-caliber player. Collins checks that box even if he isn’t going to provide much pop as a pass rusher. He should be on the field quite a bit right away.

Projected role: Starting DT

Round 3, Pick 75: LB Nick Martin

Logic says a third-round pick would be in line to snag the starting Will linebacker spot next to Fred Warner. Martin isn’t a slam dunk to wrestle that job away from Dee Winters, Jalen Graham or Tatum Bethune. He may have the inside track, but he’ll have to prove his 5-11, 221-pound frame can hold up against NFL defenders. He’ll also have to prove he can play coverage in the NFL. The tools are there though, and the 49ers wouldn’t have used a top 100 pick on him if they didn’t think he’d be Dre Greenlaw’s replacement.

Projected role: Starting WLB

Round 3, Pick 100: CB Upton Stout

There’s a real chance Stout just dawgs his way to a starting slot cornerback spot with San Francisco. He’ll have a ways to go though since there are so many versatile pieces in the 49ers’ secondary. Renardo Green and Deommodore Lenoir can both play in the slot, which opens the door for an outside CB to sneak in and grab a starting job. Stout will be a fun player to keep a close eye on, but starting isn’t a slam dunk.

Projected role: Fourth CB and special teams

Round 4, Pick 113: DL CJ West

West is another really fun player who has a shot to start in a not-super-deep defensive tackle room. Early on he may best be used as a change-of-pace rotational DT whose motor makes him effective later in games. Holding up well against the run would go a long way toward earning him more snaps.

Projected role: Rotational DT

Round 4, Pick 138: WR Jordan Watkins

There’s a ton of variance in the 49ers receiving corps going into the year. Ideally, Brandon Aiyuk will be healthy and second-year WR Ricky Pearsall will continue ascending as a player. That would open the door for Watkins to take a backseat in Year 1 where he can get acclimated to the NFL and potentially work in on special teams. He could wind up battling for a roster spot with second-year WR Jacob Cowing.

Projected role: Fifth WR and punt returner

Round 5, Pick 147: RB Jordan James

Injuries could quickly change James’s outlook as a rookie. For now he’ll go into training camp behind Christian McCaffrey and Isaac Guerendo on the depth chart. Even if they’re both healthy for the entire season, James may be too effective to keep on the bench every week.

Projected role: Third RB

Round 5, Pick 160: S Marques Sigle

There should be a heck of a battle for a starting safety job in the 49ers’ secondary and Sigle figures to be firmly in the mix. His positional versatility is intriguing, but it may not be enough to push him into a starting spot ahead of veterans like Ji’Ayir Brown and Richie Grant.

Projected role: Backup FS, special teams

Round 7, Pick 227: QB Kurtis Rourke

It’s easy to see where Rourke fits in since the hierarchy is so clear-cut at quarterback. Last year’s undrafted rookie signing Tanner Mordecai didn’t do enough to prove he could have a long-term role in San Francisco. Now Rourke will get a chance to prove he’s a capable backup for Brock Purdy somewhere down the line.

Projected role: Third QB

Round 7, Pick 249: OL Connor Colby

Size, experience and versatility are all good things for a late seventh-round pick to bring to the table. Colby started 46 games in his career at right guard, left guard and right tackle. He’s also checks the physical boxes at 6-5, 309 pounds. There’s a weakness on the interior of the 49ers’ offensive line and Colby will have a chance to compete for a roster spot.

Projected role: Practice squad

Round 7, Pick 252: WR Junior Bergen

Bergen started as a running back at the University of Montana before moving to wide receiver. He returned eight punts for touchdowns in his career, including three on only 10 attempts as a senior. His lack of production as a receiver probably limits his ceiling as a pro, but he’s electric with the ball in his hands so it’s hard to count him out from making an impact on a special teams unit that has struggled the last couple seasons.