Last April, the San Francisco 49ers used three of their first five picks on defensive linemen, grabbing Mykel Williams with their top pick before selecting Alfred Collins and C.J. West in subsequent rounds.
Nearly two-thirds of the way through the 2025 season, the results have been mixed, at best, albeit promising. Williams, prior to his season-ending ACL tear, showed flashes of pass-rush ability despite not wholly impacting the stat sheet, while Collins has shaken early season woes and even delivered a game-changing play against the Los Angeles Rams in prime time. Even West has come on better as of late.
Yet the Niners D-line remains a work in progress, magnified by the fact a Nick Bosa-less pass rush has just 12 sacks on the season, dead last in the league through 11 weeks.
So, from that vantage point, it makes sense why ESPN's Matt Miller projected San Francisco to get back to its roots and invest again in the D-line in his latest Round 1 mock for the 2026 NFL Draft.
49ers focus on interior pass rush in latest ESPN mock NFL Draft
Collins is shaping up to be a true every-down interior defensive tackle, not unlike what the 49ers enjoyed with now-Jacksonville Jaguars veteran Arik Armstead. But, with rotational interior linemen like Jordan Elliott and Kevin Givens poised to hit free agency this offseason, coupled with West appearing to be more of a reserve at this point, it makes sense grabbing some inside support would be atop general manager John Lynch's wish list.
So, from Miller's perspective, the 49ers grab Ohio State defensive tackle Kayden McDonald at No. 23 overall:
"The 49ers invested four picks in the 2025 draft along the defensive line, adding Mykel Williams (edge), Robert Beal Jr. (edge), Alfred Collins (DT) and CJ West (DT). But the 49ers are last in the NFL with 12 sacks, so more help is needed, especially at defensive tackle. McDonald, who lines up at nose tackle for the Buckeyes, has been an elite run defender as a first-year starter but also adds pass-rush ability, with three sacks and five pressures this season. At 6-foot-3 and 326 pounds, the junior has also added 44 tackles through 10 games, an unreal number for a nose tackle."
The Niners spent last offseason trying to improve their shoddy run defense, and one figures this to be another priority again in 2026 despite the additions of Williams, Collins and West.
But, finding an interior disruptor who can impact opponents' passing attacks is a true benefit that'd also allow both Bosa and Williams to operate more freely in the pass-rush department from the outside.
Lynch and Co. have long adopted a D-line first philosophy dating back to taking over duties in 2017, then revisiting it again last offseason.
Should McDonald be the priority again, it'd fall in line with San Francisco's longstanding philosophy.