49ers rank disappointingly low in ESPN's under-25 talent evaluation

The San Francisco 49ers made a concerted effort this offseason to inject youth and cost-effective talent into their roster. Over the past two years, the team has drafted 19 players, including an 11-player 2025 draft class. However, that influx of young talent wasn't enough to improve the 49ers' standing in ESPN analyst Aaron Schatz's annual ranking of each NFL team's under-25 talent pool.

In fact, the 49ers slid seven spots compared to last year, dropping from No. 23 in 2024 to No. 30 in 2025. Even more concerning, Schatz couldn't identify a single "blue-chip" player under 25 on San Francisco's roster. Quarterback Brock Purdy, who was the lone player highlighted a year ago, aged out of eligibility after turning 25 in December.

Even last year's surprise standout rookie, offensive guard Dominick Puni, is already 25.

"Purdy no longer counts as talent under 25, but the 49ers still have some younger starters," Schatz wrote. "Safety Malik Mustapha, 23, started 12 games in 2024. Linebacker Dee Winters is 24 and started 10 games. Cornerback Renardo Green and wide receiver Ricky Pearsall -- both expected starters in 2025 -- are 24."

Mustapha is recovering from the ACL injury he suffered in last season's finale. Winters is competing for the weakside linebacker job, while Green and Pearsall—both entering their second seasons—showed promise as rookies but are still unproven.

"Second-round rookie defensive tackle Alfred Collins is 23," Schatz added, "and the youngest of the 49ers is their first-round pick, edge rusher Mykel Williams. He turned 21 in late June."

Despite the lack of elite young talent, the 49ers still feature a strong veteran core led by Purdy, Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, Trent Williams, Fred Warner, and Nick Bosa. The team hopes this foundation, along with early contributions from its newest players, will help rebound from a disappointing 6-11 finish in 2024 and push for a playoff return in 2025.

Significant steps forward from recent draft picks could help San Francisco climb back up Schatz's rankings next year.

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