Mykel Williams did not have great production in college, but the 49ers made a big bet on his physical tools when they took him with the 11th overall pick in this year’s draft.
One national reporter believes that bet will quickly prove to be an emphatic success.
In a mailbag article, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer revealed his very high expectations for Williams in his rookie year starting on the 49ers’ defensive line.
Breer was asked for his favorites for Rookie of the Year. When addressing the defensive side, he wrote:
“On defense, I’m very tempted to go with San Francisco 49ers edge rusher Mykel Williams, whom I suspect always had first-pick-type freakish ability hidden by injury last year. He’ll be playing opposite Nick Bosa in a hyper-aggressive scheme, so it wouldn’t stun me if he rings up a dozen sacks. But it’s hard for me not to pick Abdul Carter, because I think his athleticism is so different for a player at that position, and because the Giants’ strength up front will allow for DC Shane Bowen to generate matchups for him.”
Williams winning Defensive Rookie of the Year would see him emulate Bosa, who won the award in 2019 after being taken with the second overall pick. However, Bosa did not register double-digit sacks in that campaign. tallying nine in the regular season as the 49ers reached the Super Bowl.
If Williams is able to record a dozen sacks in his rookie season as Breer believes he might, the former Georgia Bulldog would become the first 49er rookie since Aldon Smith in 2011 to reach double digits.
That feat is something only two other 49ers beyond Smith have achieved. Charles Haley racked up 12 sacks in 1986, and Dana Stubblefield finished with 10.5 in 1993.
With arms over 34 inches, the 260-pound Williams can use his length to generate significant push as a bull rusher and can transform speed to power easily. He also has the ability to bend and flatten to the quarterback when attacking around the edge, with his prowess moving laterally making him a substantial threat on stunts.
Having found success with swipe, club and long arm moves in college, Williams has the arsenal to thrive as a pass rusher at the next level, and there is a school of thought that simply being healthy will help him do so. Williams had just five sacks last season, but that number is more impressive when you consider he played almost all of 2024 with a severe high-ankle sprain suffered in the season opener.
But his odds of wreaking havoc rushing the passer in year one will also hinge on the accuracy of the 49ers’ assessment of his capability as an inside rusher.
Per Breer, the 49ers asked Williams where he saw himself lining up on third down in the Super Bowl and he responded “over the guard”. GM John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan both highlighted his inside-out versatility as a key asset in explaining his selection.
Shanahan said:
“The more you watch him, like man, this guy is, I knew he was good, but he is a lot better than I thought. And then, love him over guards, but he also could do it outside just as well. So, to have that versatility in two areas that can help us a lot and to be as physical in the run game and to be the type of guy he is, that’s why it’s been a spot guy we were hoping for a while.”
As such, Williams will likely be regularly given the chance to rush inside on true passing downs with Yetur Gross-Matos taking his spot at big end in those situations.
If he can live up to his billing as an inside rusher and take advantage of the attention teams dedicate to Bosa on true passing downs, Williams could well put himself in a position to join Smith and Co. in a very select club in his rookie year.
