At this point in the 2026 season, the 49ers’ 2025 draft class is a mixed bag, and the biggest story is how many of those picks still come with a giant asterisk.
San Francisco did uncover three starters from the group, which is a solid haul. But the early part of the class has been defined more by injuries and uncertainty than by clean, obvious progress.
Mykel Williams, the 49ers’ first selection, still hasn’t taken a snap in 2026 after tearing his ACL in Week 9 of his rookie year. He’s expected back in Week 6, but more than a year and a quarter into his NFL career, he remains a mystery.
Alfred Collins was trending in the right direction by the end of his rookie season and was supposed to be in line for a bigger role on a reshuffled defensive line in 2026. Instead, he tore his Achilles just before Week 1, pushing his timeline back until 2027.
Nick Martin’s rookie year never really got off the ground either. He was active for seven games, logged 15 defensive snaps and 74 special teams snaps, and then landed on injured reserve in 2026 without taking another snap.
The one clear win at the top of the class is Upton Stout. He’s the first 49ers pick to truly hit, starting the past two seasons and making progress in the new Raheem Morris defense.
There are a few more encouraging signs farther down the board. CJ West was a depth piece as a rookie, struggled early in Year 2, and then got hurt, though he should be back this season.
Jordan Watkins has only four catches for 86 yards in his career, but injuries are starting to push him into a bigger role in his second season. Jordan James has four carries for 15 yards and was quickly passed by third-round rookie Kaelon Black.
Marques Sigle has been one of the more notable second-year surprises, emerging as a breakout starter after getting benched as a rookie. Connor Colby has also taken a meaningful step forward and now looks like a capable left guard after spending his rookie year on the bench.
Junior Bergen, meanwhile, is no longer on the roster.
So while the 49ers did get three starters out of the class, the top three picks remain major question marks, and four of the selections look like they may not offer much over the next year or more.
In Other News...
49ers May Soon Regret Passing On A Raiders Ballhawk
The 49ers secondary continues to be a watch point, especially when a nearby rival is getting immediate returns from a rookie defensive back. Las Vegas cornerback Hezekiah Masses has opened his first season looking like the kind of ballhawk that can change field position in a hurry, while San Franciscos own cornerback addition, Ephesians Prysock, has yet to get into a game. It is the sort of comparison that gets sharper when a young defender is producing early and another is still waiting for his chance.
San Francisco will get a firsthand look at Masses in Week 9, when the 49ers meet the Raiders. For a team that has already invested in the cornerback room, this is one of those matchups that can linger beyond a single afternoon, because every early interception and every pass breakup from a rookie on the other sideline only adds to the question of what might have been. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Face A Division Test Seattle Has Been Waiting For
The Seahawks have had this one circled, and not just because the undefeated 49ers are rolling into Seattle for a Week 5 division test that could say plenty about the early shape of the NFC West. Rivalry games tend to come with extra layers, and this one is no different, with familiar faces and coaching connections giving both sides plenty of reasons to know each other well before kickoff.
There is also a clear sense that Seattle sees an opening to measure itself against the league's most confident opponent so far, especially with so many ties between the staffs and rosters over the past few seasons. The buildup has naturally invited plenty of speculation about how certain players might factor into the game and whether the Seahawks can turn familiarity into an edge, but the bigger question remains how much of a challenge San Francisco's unbeaten start can withstand on the road. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Face Their Toughest Early Test Yet In Seattle
Seattle has spent the early part of the season looking like one of the NFC Wests hardest problems, and now San Francisco gets the assignment in a setting that has long forced the 49ers to work for every inch. The matchup brings together a Seattle pass rush that can stress protection plans with a San Francisco offense that usually depends on timing, rhythm and clean pockets to function at its best. For Brock Purdy, the trip carries extra weight because of what Seattles defensive structure has done to him before, especially under coordinator Mike Macdonald.
What makes this one so compelling is how narrow the margins already feel. The 49ers have to sort out their offensive line against a front built to disrupt, then find answers for a defense that knows how to squeeze San Franciscos preferred looks and limit easy completions. If the 49ers are going to leave Seattle with control of the division race intact, they will need a cleaner day than they have had in this matchup lately, and this early test could say plenty about how much room this offense really has against elite resistance. [Read more 🡒]