49ers first-round pick identified as top candidate for 2025 Defensive Rookie of the Year
Through his three seasons at Georgia, Williams appeared in 40 games, recording 67 tackles (23 for a loss), 14 sacks, four passes defensed, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery while earning All-SEC honors twice and winning a national championship.
There were plenty of talented first-year players taken in this year's draft, but Williams has one of the highest ceilings, and Pro Football and Sports Network's Jacob Infante even listed the 21-year-old as one of the top candidates for the 2025 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award.
"Any time you get a player like Nick Bosa rushing off the edge, whichever player rushes alongside him is practically guaranteed consistent 1-on-1 blocks. For the San Francisco 49ers, that player figures to be Mykel Williams in 2025," Infante wrote. "Though a little bit raw, Williams has elite size and length rushing off the edge. His short-area quickness and power indicate he could be a threat if he deepens his arsenal as a pass rusher. His upside alongside Bosa is incredibly high."
There's a wide range of outcomes for Williams in 2025. Some believe he could jump off the page as a double-digit sack guy as a rookie, while others think he may fall short of the hype that comes with a pick in the top half of the first round.
Having Bosa and defensive coordinator Robert Saleh in the building should help him realize his potential, but he'll really need to put in the work in training camp to earn and keep a starting job over veteran edge rusher Bryce Huff, whom the team acquired in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles after the draft.
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