Brooks: 49ers send a clear message with latest draft class

When NFL analyst Bucky Brooks was asked which general manager sent the clearest message with his team's latest draft class, he didn't hesitate to name John Lynch of the San Francisco 49ers.

Like many observers, Brooks believes the 49ers are returning to the formula that fueled their early success under Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan, dating back to the roster rebuild that began in 2017. This year, San Francisco used its first two selections on defensive linemen and added another in the fourth round, signaling a renewed emphasis on dominating in the trenches.

Brooks sees that as a strategy that will lead to future success for the organization.

"Getting back to basics," Brooks said on NFL Network's Path to the Draft. "Going back to what the formula has been for them to be successful, which is dominating on the defensive side of the ball."

With the 11th overall pick, the 49ers selected former Georgia defensive end Mykel Williams, a powerful pass rusher who now pairs with All-Pro Nick Bosa on the edge.

"In Mykel Williams, you've got a power rusher that's going to be able to get after it," Brooks explained. "He's going to bring the energy. And even though he's still raw and unrefined, putting him opposite Bosa, he's going to be able to clean up the game."

In the second round, San Francisco added former Texas defensive tackle Alfred Collins, helping to reinforce a defensive interior that lost Javon Hargrave and Maliek Collins this offseason.

"Someone that can stop the run game at the point of attack, and being able to just get beefier on the inside," Brooks said of Collins. "When you think about those classic, inventive San Francisco 49ers teams under Kyle Shanahan, it's because they've been able to dominate.

"Add in [DT] CJ West (fourth-round pick) and [LB] Nick Martin (third-round pick), and some of the other guys, this is a defense that is young, athletic, and it should be dominant real quickly as they begin to get back on track."