The San Francisco 49ers were proactive during last week's rookie minicamp, signing eight of their 11 draft picks. That leaves just three selections still unsigned. All three are defensive linemen—defensive end Mykel Williams (first round, Georgia), and defensive tackles Alfred Collins (second round, Texas) and CJ West (fourth round, Indiana).

The team likely hopes to finalize deals with the remaining trio before organized team activities (OTAs) begin on May 27. All three players attended the rookie minicamp, though Collins remained on the sidelines as he continues to recover from a calf injury.


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San Francisco overhauled its defensive front this offseason, moving on from veterans Javon Hargrave, Maliek Collins, and Leonard Floyd in an effort to get younger and more explosive in the trenches. With Robert Saleh returning as defensive coordinator, the team hopes its trio of rookie linemen, paired with All-Pro pass rusher Nick Bosa, can form a dominant and disruptive front for years to come.

Saleh was asked how his defensive scheme has evolved since his original tenure with the 49ers from 2017 to 2020, before becoming the head coach of the New York Jets.

"Some things are the same, some things are the same from the Jets, some things are meshed, some things are coming in that are new," Saleh said. "So, it's like I said, we're trying to stay a couple years ahead. A lot of it may seem similar, but there's a lot of nuance that makes a difference."

How Williams, Collins, and West ultimately fit into that evolving scheme remains to be seen, but their skill sets suggest they could play key roles early on.

In addition to addressing a pass rush that underwhelmed last season, the 49ers also aimed to improve a struggling run defense. All three drafted linemen earned 2024 run-defense grades of 82.9 or higher from Pro Football Focus, with West leading the group at 88.1.

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