The San Francisco 49ers are projected to hold the 15th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. With a disappointing 6-8 record and a season plagued by injuries, the team faces multiple needs to address with its first-round selection. In his latest mock draft, CBS Sports’ Josh Edwards predicts the 49ers will bolster their defensive front by adding a pass rusher.
The 49ers last invested a top pick in a defensive lineman in 2022, selecting USC’s Drake Jackson in the second round. Unfortunately, that move hasn’t yielded the desired results. Jackson has appeared in just 23 games over three seasons and missed the entire 2024 campaign due to injuries.
Edwards projects the 49ers will draft Nic Scourton, a defensive end from Texas A&M.
“The 49ers have consistently developed edge rushers to pair with Nick Bosa, but they’ve struggled to find a reliable complement recently,” Edwards explained. “Nic Scourton is a powerful rusher who can collapse the pocket effectively.”
CBS Sports ranks Scourton as the 16th-best prospect in the draft and the fourth-ranked player at his position. Over the last two seasons, he has accumulated 15 sacks, including a career-best 10 in 2023 while playing for Purdue.
This year, Scourton recorded 37 tackles, 14 for loss, and led the Aggies with 34 pressures, according to Pro Football Focus.
Edwards believes Scourton’s talent could provide the 49ers with the edge-rushing consistency they’ve been searching for. He would join a rotation that currently features Leonard Floyd and Yetur Gross-Matos, offering much-needed support to Nick Bosa.
