49ers rookie picked among first-year players who could disappoint in 2025
At the top of that list is first-round pick Mykel Williams, who they took with pick No. 11 overall following three seasons with the Georgia Bulldogs that included All-SEC honors (twice) and a national championship.
As the 49ers prepare for training camp, Williams is expected to be among their top pass rushers alongside Nick Bosa and the newly acquired Bryce Huff. However, Bleacher Report's Brent Sobleski recently identified the 21-year-old as one of the top rookies with the potential to disappoint in 2025.
"The idea of Mykel Williams is far more intriguing than the actual player," Sobleski wrote. "Entering last season, Williams was a darkhorse candidate to emerge as the No. 1 overall pick, as another former Georgia Bulldog in Travon Walker did three years earlier. Williams never quite reached that level, with the San Francisco 49ers eventually selecting him with this year's 11th overall draft pick.
"Williams switch from an interior defender to full-time edge defender was a driving force behind the lofty projection. It happened to a degree, though the defensive lineman still found himself lined up in an 4i (inside shoulder of the offensive tackle) quite often. His sack numbers didn't dramatically increase, either. To be fair, Williams dealt with a high-ankle sprain that he suffered in Georgia's first game of the 2025 campaign.
"Still, his development as a pass-rusher remains in its early stages... The opportunity to play opposite Nick Bosa certainly helps. Williams can be an excellent run defender at the onset of his professional career. But the 20-year-old will need time to hone his craft for a year or two before he becomes the pass-rusher that San Francisco hopes he can be."
In his three seasons with Georgia, Williams recorded 67 tackles (23 for a loss), 14 sacks, four passes defensed, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in 40 games.
Williams has the traits, but he still needs to show that he can be an impactful edge rusher consistently. If he's finishing with fewer than five sacks as a rookie (as he did in two of his three seasons with the Bulldogs), many will be disappointed by his first year as a pro.
Luckily, he has one of the best edge rushers (Nick Bosa) and defensive coordinators (Robert Saleh) to learn from as he adjusts to life in the NFL.
More 49ers: 49ers Day-3 draft pick identified as candidate for 2025 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year
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