Report names prospect 49ers 'praying' falls to them in 2025 NFL Draft

With only two weeks until the 2025 NFL Draft, the 49ers might have their sights set on one of the top defensive players in this year's class.

Per The Athletic, "With defensive tackle their biggest need, [defensive coordinator] Robert Saleh must be praying that Michigan's Mason Graham falls."

In 2024, Graham had 45 tackles (seven for loss) and 3.5 sacks. Per Pro Football Focus data, he was credited with 34 total pressures in 12 games. He ranked as the site's top run-defending interior defensive lineman, ending the season with 25 stops, tackles PFF defines as a failure for the offense. His 12 percent run-play stop rate ranked second in FBS among 194 linemen with at least 200 snaps on rushing downs.

The Niners rush defense was a weakness last season. San Francisco finished 17th in yards allowed per carry (4.4), with opponents rushing for 2,118 yards and 24 touchdowns on 476 rush attempts. 

The unit didn't improve during March's free agency. The 49ers have been among the biggest losers this offseason, with eight total defenders, including tackles Javon Hargrave and Maliek Collins, signing elsewhere.

Graham would be a significant get for the 49ers, who hold the No. 11 pick in the first round. In The Athletic NFL Draft analyst Dane Brugler's recently published "The Beast" draft guide, he listed the junior lineman as the No. 1 defensive tackle and No. 4 overall prospect in this year's class.

"Graham is a leverage monster," Brugler wrote, "and skillfully destroys blocks with his strength, quickness, motor and play recognition to make an impact versus both pass and run."

Brugler added, "He projects as a versatile interior presence with the floor of an NFL starter."

It would be surprising if Graham were available at No. 11. Among the teams selecting ahead of the 49ers, the Patriots (No. 4), Jaguars (No. 5), Jets (No. 7), Panthers (No. 8) and Saints (No. 9) have needs at defensive tackle.

Jacksonville is viewed as his most likely landing spot. Per ESPN Analytics, it has a greater than 50 percent chance of taking Graham.

The 49ers must have a strong backup plan. With 11 picks, they could still have an extremely successful draft even without adding 2025's top defensive lineman prospect. Or, instead of relying on a prayer to land Graham, might they part with some of their draft assets to move up and acquire the coveted tackle?

It wouldn't be the first time this decade the Niners made an aggressive move up the draft board. Maybe this one would work.

San Francisco, which went 6-11 last season, has suffered many more losses than wins (on and off the field) since defeating the Lions in the 2023 NFC Championship Game. For an organization desperate for something positive, there'd be no better outcome to the opening night of the 2025 draft (Thursday, April 24) than landing Graham.