The San Francisco 49ers need help on both sides of the line.
The offensive line was less than stellar last season regardless of the mild success of the run game even without Christian McCaffrey in the lineup.
The defense was even worse, especially against the run.
Per Pro Football Focus, the 49ers' defensive line gave up 1.5 yards before contact per attempt - eighth worst in the league.
That's not going to lend to any success on defense against the NFC powerhouses who run the ball well in today's NFL.
It's because of this statistic that SI's Grant Cohn suggests the 49ers draft Michigan defensive tackle Kenneth Grant with the No. 11 pick in next month's NFL Draft.
"Enter Grant, one of the best run defenders in the draft. At 6-4, 331-pounds, he's built like Giants Pro Bowl defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence. Ideally, the 49ers probably would prefer to trade down before taking Grant, but his stock could rise after his pro day on March 21.
"He did not run at the combine"
Cohn continues that Grant seems to fit the 49ers scheme well, and would give the defense a three-down defensive tackle.
Every pick in the draft seems important for San Francisco this season, especially with all the holes in the roster as the team re-tools.
Related: 49ers To Sign Key Special Teams Contributor in Free Agency
But the No. 11 pick seems especially important. That's not a pick they can afford to miss on.
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This story was originally published March 20, 2025 at 10:28 AM.