The San Francisco 49ers wrapped up the 2025 NFL Draft and opinions are a bit mixed on the overall haul. There is a lot to like about some of the picks, while others offer some question marks. That’s reflecting in the draft grades that have started to drop over the past 12 hours.

Draft grades are an instant evaluation of something that really takes at least two or three years to truly get a handle on. However, given where the 49ers stand coming out of a poor 2024 campaign and a roster overhaul over the past two months, the opinions give us something to chew on the rest of the offseason.

ESPN’s Mel Kiper posted his draft grades overnight and he has given the 49ers a B. He likes how the 49ers worked to improve their defense. He was high on Nick Martin, Upton Stout, and CJ West, but as he noted, this draft will hinge in large part on how Mykel Williams turns out. John Lyncha nd Kyle Shanahan have been hit or miss on their first round picks over the years. If Williams turns into a strong bookend to Nick Bosa, this draft class will likely look a lot better than if he turns into an average player or entirely busts out.

Kiper listed the 49ers needs as defensive tackle, offensive tackle, guard, cornerback, and edge rusher. They got the defensive help, but they waited until the seventh round to address their offensive line. We’ll see if that decision comes back to bite them and Brock Purdy this fall.

Mel Miper draft grade for 49ers: B

General manager John Lynch entered Round 1 with 11 picks to play around with, including extra selections in the third, fourth and fifth rounds. Could he come out of the weekend with impact players?

Well, he certainly tried to help his defense. Lynch used his first five picks on that side of the ball, only the second time the 49ers have done that in the common draft era (since 1967). Three of those five made my list of favorite prospects ahead of the draft: linebacker Nick Martin, cornerback Upton Stout and defensive tackle CJ West. Martin and West were solid value picks, while Stout went a little high. All three are fun players who can make an impact, even if they’re not likely to be rookie starters.

Jordan Watkins is my 27th-ranked wideout, while Jordan James is my 23rd-ranked running back. San Francisco took both earlier than I would have liked. Quarterback Kurtis Rourke is an interesting flier in Round 7. I was impressed by his decision-making and his timing on throws when going through his tape. I wouldn’t be shocked if he made the roster.

This class likely will hinge on whether Mykel Williams can become a force on the other side of Nick Bosa. The 49ers ranked 28th in pressure rate last season (27.7%) and have to figure out ways to take pressure off their defensive backs. Williams is extremely explosive, but his modest sack totals (five in 2024) scared away some teams. Can San Francisco figure out how to get the best out of him on every snap? He has elite upside.

I like a few of the players Lynch took, but the value was questionable. Again, that matters in an exercise like this because you want to see organizations maneuver the board and add extra capital.