For the San Francisco 49ers, the defensive front was once a strength of the team, consistently disrupting opposing quarterbacks and overwhelming offensive lines. That wasn't the case last season, however, as the unit recorded just 20 sacks—the fewest in the NFL.

Determined to rebuild the defensive line, the 49ers used their top pick in the 2025 NFL Draft to select Mykel Williams, hoping the talented rookie could provide an immediate impact while developing into a cornerstone of the defense.


Unfortunately, Williams' rookie campaign was derailed by a torn ACL. He appeared in just nine games, finishing with 20 tackles, four tackles for loss, three quarterback hits, and one sack, according to Pro Football Reference.

The 11th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft is facing a pivotal second season. Bradley Locker of Pro Football Focus (PFF) recently identified 10 second-year NFL players under significant pressure to take the next step, with Williams making the list.

"Williams was touted as a raw but high-upside prospect coming out of Georgia," Locker wrote. "The 49ers took a shot on him with the 11th overall pick in 2025 but will need to see much more of the latter."

Locker pointed out that Williams logged only 385 defensive snaps before suffering his season-ending injury and that his production was "generally subpar" based on advanced metrics.

"His 51.9 PFF pass-rush grade ranked 90th out of 95 qualified edge defenders, as he tallied just 19 pressures on an 8.8% pass-rush win rate," Locker wrote. "Despite his run-stopping prowess in college, Williams wasn't dominant in that department either, with a 6.2% run stop rate, good for the 51st percentile."


Williams was never viewed as a polished, elite pass-rushing prospect entering the NFL. He totaled just 14 sacks across three seasons at Georgia. Still, the 49ers drafted him because they believed he could develop into a complete defensive end capable of impacting both the run and passing game. His ACL injury was a setback in that development.

If Williams struggles to regain his explosiveness following the injury or fails to make meaningful progress as a pass rusher, he could see his role limited.

Locker believes improving as a pass rusher will be critical if Williams hopes to become a cornerstone of coordinator Raheem Morris' defense.

"After Bryce Huff's retirement, the 49ers are counting on Williams to be a legitimate running mate for the returning Nick Bosa," Locker wrote. "The second-year pass-rusher looms as a big X-factor on a team with continued title intentions, aiming to boost a unit that placed 25th in PFF pass-rushing grade."

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