The 49ers are set for a promising 2025 NFL Draft, thanks to Darnold’s performance
San Francisco: The 49ers are gearing up for the 2025 NFL Draft, and it looks promising. They’re expecting to have around 10 picks, with the highlight being the No. 11 overall pick.
Thanks to Sam Darnold’s impressive season with the Vikings, the 49ers might snag an extra compensatory pick at the end of the fourth round. This is great news for them as they look to build on their strong rookie class from 2024.
John Lynch, the 49ers’ general manager, expressed excitement about the upcoming draft. He mentioned the importance of adding to their roster and how they’re looking forward to having 10 picks, including that compensatory one.
Out of those 10 picks, three are expected to be compensatory selections due to free agency losses last year. They’re projected to get fourth-round picks at No. 137 and No. 138 for losing Darnold and defensive end Chase Young.
Additionally, they’ll receive a seventh-round pick (No. 254) for losing receiver Ray-Ray McCloud. Darnold had a standout year, leading the Vikings to a 14-3 record and earning a Pro Bowl selection.
Young also had a solid season with the Saints, while McCloud had a career year with the Falcons. The 49ers will also get a special compensatory pick for losing former defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans to the Texans.
With five of their projected picks expected to be within the first 111 selections, the 49ers are in a good position. However, they did forfeit their fifth-round pick due to a salary-cap violation last season.