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The San Francisco 49ers had a rough season last year, mostly due to injuries. Christian McCaffrey only played in a handful of games, and Brandon Aiyuk tore his ACL early in the season. They were never able to garner any traction and are at a crossroads heading into the 2025 season. The team has gone all-in for a Super Bowl and come up short twice against the Kansas City Chiefs. Now, they have an aging roster with expensive players. They could use some young talent to try and make another run. They got a building block for their defense, Mykel Williams, the edge rusher out of Georgia.
San Francisco 49ers Draft Mykel Williams With 11th Overall Pick
Mykel Williams is one of the top edge rushers in the draft. He has spent the past three years with the Georgia Bulldogs and has been solid. This past year, he had 21 total tackles, five sacks, and two forced fumbles. His athleticism makes him a dangerous player off the edge. For the San Francisco 49ers, they now have a player to line up opposite Nick Bosa.
Bosa is one of the best pass-rushers in the league, but every pass rusher needs help on the line. Williams will likely get a lot of one-on-one opportunities as teams try to slow down the All-Pro defensive end. The offense was decimated by injuries last year, but the defense took a step back, too. They add some quality depth and get a great piece for defensive coordinator Robert Saleh.
Final Thoughts
The San Francisco 49ers will hopefully not be bitten by the injury bug in 2025. If the offense is healthy, they can do some damage, and the defense still has plenty of playmakers. With the addition of Williams, they hope to compete in a surprisingly tough NFC West. Can the 49ers defense return to its top ten form?
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Indiana Basketball Makes Final 6 For Nation's No. 3 Center Recruit
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Indiana men's basketball is among six finalists for one of the top big men in the class of 2026. Davion Adkins, a four-star center from Dallas, will consider the Hoosiers along with Auburn, Rutgers, UCLA, Houston and Kansas. He hasn't set a date for his commitment. Adkins plans to visit each of his six final options, with Indiana up first Sept. 13, according to Peegs.com. The 6-foot-9, 205-pound Adkins is a top-40 player in his class by both 247Sports and On3 Sports. He's ranked as the No. 3 center by 247Sports and No. 5 power forward by On3 Sports. Adkins will play his senior season for Prolific Prep in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Here's 247Sports director of scouting Adam Finkelstein's evaluation of Adkins ... "Adkins is one of the most naturally talented frontcourt prospects in the class of 2026," Finkelstein wrote, "and while his tools have been glaring for some time now, he's just starting to turn potential into production at a more consistent rate. A long and athletic southpaw, Adkins is every bit of his listed 6-foot-8 with a massive 7-foot-2 wingspan, and huge hands. "He's a bouncy vertical athlete and major lob threat who can rise-up for emphatic finishes. He also has soft natural touch and clear long-term shooting potential that should eventually allow him to stretch the floor both vertically and to the arc." Though Indiana has just one commitment in its 2026 recruiting class — four-star combo guard Prince-Alexander Moody — the Hoosiers have enjoyed a successful week with rising senior prospects. In addition to Adkins, the Hoosiers are finalists for five-star guard Taylen Kinney, five-star forward Anthony Thompson and four-star power forward Latrell Allmond.
Kirk Cousins makes notable leadership move after Falcons practice
Kirk Cousins might be relegated to the job of backup quarterback, but he is showing veteran leadership to his Atlanta Falcons teammates. Following Sunday's practice, Cousins pulled aside rookie defensive end James Pearce to encourage the first-round pick after his fourth practice in the league at Flowery Branch, Georgia. "QB Kirk Cousins pulled aside Pearce after practice to compliment him on a pass batted down," wrote Marc Raimondi of ESPN. Cousins reportedly had a solid day of practice on Sunday, going 7-of-12 passing against the first-team unit. If Cousins wants out of Atlanta, he's not showing it at practice. The four-time Pro Bowl quarterback is competing on the field and being a good teammate around the facility. Cousins' actions on the field backed up what Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot praised Cousins for before the team's practice on Sunday. “Outside, it's a lot more of a deal than it is in the building,” Fontenot said to the media about the idea of friction between the Falcons and Cousins, per video from D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal Constitution. “He shows up, he does his job, just like anybody ... We've gotta build the best 70-man roster so we can go win games. "That's what we're focused on, and Kirk, just like all the other players, is focused on coming in here and doing their job. That's what he's been doing." Fontenot didn't dismiss the idea that Atlanta would trade Cousins before the season. He said the Falcons will do whatever it takes to make the team better, but stressed that Cousins has been a professional throughout the process of being replaced by Michael Penix Jr., a first-round pick from the 2024 draft. “In terms of making moves, whether it's trades or acquiring players, we're always looking at those factors," Fontenot said. "We're gonna do whatever we can do to make this team the best it can possibly be. But he's been a great professional, and he's handled himself well.” Cousins is coming to work in a manner that will make another owner want to take a chance on the veteran quarterback. That could be one of his best-selling points before he plays in his 13th season in the league.
New report suggests Christian Wilkins release related to 'incident' with teammate
There may be more to Christian Wilkins’ recent surprise release from the Las Vegas Raiders. NFL reporter Josina Anderson reported Saturday that "some sources believe an incident involving a teammate may have factored in-part into the Raiders' fatigue and release" of Wilkins. The nature of the incident is not clear. However, many believe the Raiders had a very good reason to move on from Wilkins considering the money they had invested in him. It also suggests the Raiders saw no alternative if they went straight to a release. Wilkins was dumped by the Raiders just one year into a four-year, $110 million deal. The Raiders suggested Wilkins failed to take rehab seriously as he tries to work his way back from a foot injury. Other teams do not appear to have the same concerns about Wilkins as the Raiders did, and he should find a new landing spot fairly easily. That is one of the reasons some suspect there is more to the Raiders’ decision than they are publicly saying.
Two-time Pro Bowler's record-breaking extension should make Chargers HC Jim Harbaugh happy
Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh loves offensive linemen. The coach said, "We look at offensive linemen as weapons," after facing criticism for taking right tackle Joe Alt instead of wide receiver Malik Nabers (now with the New York Giants) during the 2024 NFL Draft. Unsurprisingly, the Chargers are keeping Harbaugh's arsenal stocked. Los Angeles and left tackle Rashawn Slater agreed to a four-year, $114M contract extension Sunday, via ESPN's Adam Schefter. The deal includes $92M guaranteed, making him the highest-paid O-lineman in NFL history. Slater, 26, had been working to the side at training camp instead of practicing with the team since July 18. Harbaugh has used a smashmouth offense throughout his career. During the 2024 season, the Chargers tied for the league's 11th-most rushing attempts (463). L.A. will probably continue to lean heavily on its ground attack this season. It signed running back Najee Harris in free agency and grabbed North Carolina RB Omarion Hampton (pick No. 22) in the 2025 draft. Harris is on the non-football injury list because of an eye injury suffered during a fireworks accident on July 4. Keeping O-linemen who suit the run-heavy scheme is critical. Per Pro Football Focus, Slater posted an 82.8 run-blocking grade in 15 regular-season games last season, the fifth-best mark at his position. The two-time Pro Bowler is also excellent at protecting quarterback Justin Herbert. The Northwestern product has allowed just 11 sacks since the Chargers selected him with pick No. 13 in the 2021 draft (via PFF). The only concern about Slater is his injury history. He missed 14 regular-season games during the 2022 season because of a left biceps tear and battled ankle and pectoral injuries over the past two seasons. If Slater stays healthy, the Chargers should have one of the best O-lines in the NFL. PFF's Zoltan Buday ranked the unit No. 10 in the league in a story published July 7. That should make Harbaugh smile.
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