Two 49ers named among analyst's favorite draft picks

NFL.com analyst Chad Reuter recently published his list of favorite selections from each round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Two members of the San Francisco 49ers' newest draft class made the cut, ranking among the top picks in their respective rounds.

The first was one of the team's two third-round selections—former Oklahoma State linebacker Nick Martin. Reuter ranked Martin as his second-favorite pick of the round, behind only former Georgia center Jared Wilson, who was selected 95th overall by the New England Patriots.

While Reuter had projected Martin to come off the board a round later, he views the linebacker as an ideal fit for the 49ers' defense.

"I projected Martin to be a fourth-round pick for the 49ers in my final three mock drafts, but I can't blame San Francisco for taking him a round earlier," Reuter wrote. "He's a perfect replacement for Dre Greenlaw as a short (5-11 1/2) but explosive linebacker who works through blocks as a blitzer and tracks down ball-carriers in the open field. Martin can line up anywhere, anytime and should benefit from working with perennial All-Pro Fred Warner."

General manager John Lynch also expressed excitement about Martin's potential to help fill the void left by Greenlaw, who signed with the Denver Broncos.

"Nick Martin, the linebacker, he's a run and hit player," Lynch said on Friday night. "He fits our style of physicality and playing the game the right way. Two-time captain at Oklahoma State, just had our type of player all over it. Swarms to the football, and you feel him on the field. Not the biggest guy, but has long arms that kind of mimics Dre in a lot of ways."

The second 49ers draft pick featured on Reuter's list was Marques Sigle, the second of the team's two fifth-round selections. Reuter ranked the former Kansas State safety just behind Jaydon Blue, the former Texas running back taken 149th overall by the Dallas Cowboys.

"In the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft, San Francisco picked up two defensive backs who became starters, Deommodore Lenoir and Talanoa Hufanga, and Sigle should follow the same track," Reuter noted. "He always seems to be around the ball, partially because of the 4.37 speed he showed at the combine, but also because he has a good feel for coverage and is a willing tackler against the run."

Speaking about Sigle, Lynch added, "He's played nickel. He's a guy who can really run. I never knew, watching him on the field. I knew he was fast. I didn't see 4.32, and this guy, that is a blazing time, got a lot of versatility to his game. He's a good tackler. He eats up."

The 49ers made 11 total selections in the 2025 NFL Draft, and Reuter believes Martin and Sigle have strong chances to make early impacts on defensive coordinator Robert Saleh's unit.