It’s impossible to pinpoint exactly how big the 49ers’ defensive transformation will be in 2025. For one, the team’s 17 rookies only just arrived at the team facility Thursday afternoon. They’ll take the field as part of an introductory minicamp on Friday. Saleh and his staff have loads of evaluation to do as they formulate more definite plans for the season.
“It’s going to be a crash course,” Saleh said, “and if any of [the rookies] are worthy, they’ll be on the field Week 1.”
The 49ers spent their first five picks on defensive players for the first time since their famous 1981 draft, which netted Hall of Fame DB Ronnie Lott and several other impact players (mere months later, the 49ers won their first Super Bowl title). Posting on social media throughout the recent draft, team owner Jed York even joked about how abundantly the 49ers were feeding Saleh’s unit with their picks.
“The board fell our way from a defensive standpoint,” Saleh said. “There were a lot of guys on offense that were graded higher that [offensive coaches were] excited to go get, but they got pulled off the board. And I was standing in the back of the room like, ‘Hey, I got a guy.’ It happened the way it happened, but there was tremendous collaboration through the process.”
That collaboration, Saleh said, was another main driver behind his decision to return. His experience with the Jets very clearly soured in comparison to his initial four years with the 49ers.
“This organization is the gold standard with regard to collaboration and communication,” Saleh said. “Most buildings maybe spend a week in terms of communication between the scouting department and coaching staff with regards to the draft. But [the 49ers] will spend three to four weeks just grinding on tape, offense, defense, special teams, and going deep into the seventh-round, undrafted free agent-type players.
“And I think that’s why this organization has had so much success finding Day 3 picks that come to fruition and even undrafted free agents that end up having success in this league. When it comes to finding players, this organization does a phenomenal job with collaboration.”