With free agency mostly wrapped up and the 2025 edition fo the NFL draft complete, NFL teams are morphing into shape for the start of the season, including the San Francisco 49ers.
Defense was the theme of San Francisco’s draft, with John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan selecting five defensive players with five straight selections, highlighted by first-round pick, Georgia standout edge rusher, Mykel Williams.
Advertisement
After an underwhelming performance from their defense last year, the 49ers spent most of their draft capital overhauling that side of the football, specifically the defensive line. WIth Robert Salah back on the sideline, the 49ers will boast a new-look group on the defensive front, headlined by Williams and former Defensive Player of the Year Nick Bosa.
Despite their overhaul on defense, it wasn’t good enough to push the 49ers into the top 10 of the latest set of power rankings from USA TODAY. In Nate Davis of USA TODAY’s post-draft power rankings, the 49ers just cracked the top half of the list, landing at No. 14 overall.
We’re eight seasons into the John Lynch-Kyle Shanahan regime – half ending outside the playoffs, the other half extending at least as far as the NFC title game. Despite a significant offseason recalibration, the Niners seem too good to miss the postseason again … assuming they don’t get swamped by another litany of injuries.
The 49ers landed one spot in front of division rival, the Seattle Seahawks. Fellow NFC rivals the Tampa Bay Bucccaneers, the Green Bay Packers, the Detroit Lions, the Washington Commanders, the Los Angeles Rams and the Philadelphia Eagles all earned spots in the top 10 of Davis’s power rankings.
Advertisement
The 49ers are coming off a disappointing 6-11 season that left them out of the postseason for the first time since 2020. The 49ers made the playoffs in three straight seasons, including a run to the Super Bowl in 2023.
The 49ers’ offseason program will continue with OTAs on May 27. Mandatory minicamp is set to start on June 10 in Santa Clara.
This post originally appeared on Niners Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: NFL power rankings: 49ers outside top 10 after NFL draft