The San Francisco 49ers went into the 2025 season knowing they'd need their rookie class to step up - and to their credit, several did. Cornerback Upton Stout flashed real promise in the secondary, while Alfred Collins gave the defensive front some much-needed depth. But as the dust settles and the team looks toward a pivotal offseason, it’s hard not to wonder if the Niners might’ve missed a bigger opportunity in last year’s draft.
Let’s start with the reality: the 49ers are staring down the possibility of losing four wide receivers this offseason - Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings, Kendrick Bourne, and Skyy Moore could all be on the move. That’s not just a depth issue; that’s a full-blown overhaul. And when you look back at the 2025 NFL Draft, it’s fair to ask whether San Francisco should’ve prioritized the wide receiver position a little sooner.
Instead, the Niners used their No. 11 overall pick on edge rusher Mykel Williams out of Georgia. At the time, it was a logical move.
The pass rush needed help, and Williams was viewed as a high-upside player with the physical tools to grow into a disruptive force. Early on, he showed flashes - the kind of progress you want to see from a rookie.
But a torn ACL in Week 9 cut his season short, and while there’s still optimism about his future, he hasn’t yet shown the ability to consistently get after the quarterback. That’s a concern for a defense that finished dead last in sacks with just 20 on the year.
Meanwhile, wide receiver Emeka Egbuka - who went No. 19 overall to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers - put together a rookie campaign that’s hard to ignore. In 17 games, the Ohio State product hauled in 63 catches for 938 yards and six touchdowns.
And he wasn’t just padding stats in garbage time - he stepped up in a big way for a Bucs team that was ravaged by injuries at the position. Egbuka gave them reliable hands, crisp route-running, and the kind of burst that can flip a game in a single play.
That’s exactly the kind of weapon San Francisco could use right now.
Of course, hindsight is 20/20. The 49ers had every reason to go after an edge rusher, especially with how thin they were up front.
And to be clear, Mykel Williams isn’t a bust - far from it. He’s still a young player with a high ceiling, and with a full recovery, he could become a key piece of this defense for years to come.
But with the wide receiver room potentially getting gutted this offseason, it’s hard not to think about what could’ve been. Ricky Pearsall was supposed to help shoulder the load, but he battled injuries all year.
Aiyuk’s situation, once hopeful, turned into a season-long saga that never really resolved. And now, heading into the 2026 draft, the 49ers are back at square one at the receiver position.
They’ll almost certainly need to dip into this year’s wideout class - and maybe they hit on a future star. But the margin for error is slim. With a roster built to win now, San Francisco can’t afford to whiff on another opportunity to add a dynamic offensive weapon.
Egbuka could’ve been that guy. He’s already proving he can produce at the next level, and with his blend of speed, polish, and toughness, he would’ve been a perfect fit in Kyle Shanahan’s offense - especially with Deebo Samuel still drawing attention underneath and Christian McCaffrey keeping defenses honest.
Again, the 49ers made a calculated decision based on need, and there’s still time for Mykel Williams to validate that pick. But the way things have played out - both with Egbuka’s emergence and the uncertainty surrounding San Francisco’s wide receiver corps - it’s hard not to look back and wonder what might’ve been if the Niners had gone a different route at No. 11.
Now, with free agency looming and the draft on deck, they’ll need to find answers - fast.