When it comes to position groups that have seen the most attrition this offseason for the [San Francisco 49ers](https://www.ninersnation.com/), the defensive line has easily been the most impacted position.
San Francisco made several cash-saving moves along the defensive line, releasing defensive end Leonard Floyd and defensive tackles Javon Hargrave and Maliek Collins.
In return, they did not make any meaningful additions, creating holes on the starting defensive line ahead of the 2025 [NFL Draft](https://www.sbnation.com/nfl-draft).
Defensive line play has long been a staple of the 49ers’ defenses, as they’ve made significant investments at the position in the past. But, over the past two offseasons, the 49ers have lost several players, including Arik Armstead, Javon Kinlaw, Clelin Ferrell, Charles Omenihu, and Chase Young, among others, in addition to those listed above.
Currently, the 49ers are projected to start Nick Bosa and Yetur Gross-Matos on the edge, while Jordan Elliott, Kevin Givens, and Evan Anderson are the leaders on the interior.
So, will the 49ers' defensive line actually get better in 2025?
That all depends on the 2025 NFL Draft, where San Francisco will have opportunities to add defensive linemen as early as the No. 11 pick. Several defensive linemen have been mocked to the 49ers, who are in a prime spot to add at the position in one of the deeper defensive line classes in recent memory.
However, San Francisco also has quite a few other needs that require attention, raising questions as to whether they can add difference-makers along their front four to make an immediate impact in 2025.
Positions like cornerback, offensive line, safety, wide receiver, linebacker, and running back could all warrant selections for the 49ers later this month, as the team is equipped to go with the best-player-available approach.
The 49ers don’t have a quick fix along the defensive line. They need potentially three future starters at the position, and that’s hard to solve in just one draft.
So, they may be better positioned not to reach for defensive linemen, instead evaluating all of their needs with how the draft board falls, especially with how deep the class is at the position.
San Francisco could very well get a starting-caliber player on Day 2, but it’s well known that top-tier defensive line talent, specifically on the interior, is usually found in the early rounds of the draft.
Another factor in the mix is the hiring of defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, who has consistently fielded top 10 defenses regardless of his roster. Saleh has fueled his defenses with strong defensive lines, which may incentivize the 49ers to prioritize the position early.
Now, it seems the 49ers are shying away from their focus of bringing in pass-rush specialists, moving on from Javon Hargrave, Maliek Collins, and Leonard Floyd, which could bolster their porous run defense from a season ago. So, there could be improvements there if San Francisco is able to identify fits in the draft.
But, as mentioned above, it’ll be hard to fully fix the defensive line in one offseason, which is why it may be tough to produce a significantly better defensive line than San Francisco’s 2024 unit.