SB Nation NFL mock draft: 49ers prioritize trenches, grab best run defender in class at No. 11
San Francisco has some holes to fill along the defensive line, and they plug one at pick 11.
The 49ers watched a lot of their players from the 2024 team sign elsewhere in free agency or via a trade. Wide receiver Deebo Samuel is now a Washington Commander. Defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw is in Minnesota. Linebacker Dre Greenlaw has moved on to the Broncos. Heck, even Kyle Juszczyk almost landed elsewhere before the Niners brought him back on a cheaper deal.
Kyle Shanahan needs to replace a lot of good players. One area he’s always prioritized having talent was the trenches. The Shanahan offense looks a lot better with a good offensive line and old/new defensive coordinator Robert Saleh is a big fan of a dominant defensive front.
With that in mind, I expected this pick from Niners Nation to be a lineman of some kind. And it turns out that I was super right.
With the 11th pick in the SB Nation Community Mock Draft, Kyle Posey of Niners Nation selected Ole Miss defensive tackle Walter Nolen.
11.) San Francisco 49ers: Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss
Posey: When the 49ers went on deep playoff runs under the John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan regime, it was because of their defensive line. Shanahan referenced how the team had the best d-line of all time in 2019. San Francisco also released both of its starting defensive tackles. That tells me they’re looking to change the style of players they had at the position previously. That’s Nolen, a bowling ball who causes chaos and creates a muddy picture for opposing running backs and quarterbacks. The 49ers need to get back to violent defensive line play, and that’s Nolen’s calling card. Nolen being the best run defender in the class gives the Niners a significant upgrade at the position. The way he wins as a pass rusher in college leads me to believe he’ll be productive as a pro. Nolen’s a game-wrecker and a game-changer that’ll outplay his draft slot.
Analysis: Nolen becomes the second defensive tackle off the board behind Michigan’s Mason Graham. Those who love Walter Nolen truly LOVE him. Out of all the mock drafts I’ve been through this offseason, this is certainly the highest I’ve seen him taken and the first time I’ve seen him selected as DT2.
Nolen is a tall and lean interior defender at 6’4 and 296 pounds who wins with an explosive first step and has the pass rush chops to consistently beat blockers one-on-one. He keeps his motor running throughout games and pursues well to clean up plays he doesn’t make himself. On the snap, Nolen possesses a violent and snappy punch that catches linemen off guard en route to keeping his foot on the gas until the final whistle.
Yes, all of that sure sounds like a guy Robert Saleh would love to have play next to Nick Bosa.
While I do feel like this might be a bit high for Nolan in general, Posey knows the kind of players the 49ers covet and I commend him for not waiting around to get their guy.
Top five remaining players:
- Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas
- Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
- Malaki Starks, S Georgia
- James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Tennessee
- Mike Green, EDGE, Marshall
With Nolen going to the Niners, there was no movement on our top five remaining players. The Cowboys are up next with needs at wide receiver, cornerback, and defensive line. Could we see our first corner finally come off the board?