Mykel Williams came into the NFL with plenty of intrigue and plenty of work to do.
The San Francisco 49ers knew the 2025 first-round pick was a project. He has the kind of frame that jumps off the screen, but his pass-rushing polish was limited when he arrived, and that showed in his rookie year.
Williams finished with 20 tackles and one sack in nine games before a knee injury ended his season early. He was solid against the run, but the splash plays the 49ers were hoping for never really arrived.
That’s why Year 2 matters so much. Williams is trying to silence the doubts, and new defensive coordinator Raheem Morris may be the person best positioned to help him do it.
The numbers from Williams’ college résumé weren’t exactly eye-popping, either. In his final season at Georgia, he posted five sacks and 26 pressures.
So the lack of immediate fireworks in San Francisco wasn’t a total shock. But the way he was deployed didn’t exactly help.
Williams lined up outside the offensive tackle on 62 percent of his snaps, according to PFF, which kept him working mostly as a wide edge rusher.
That’s not necessarily where his biggest advantage lives. His size and power make him a tougher problem for guards than for tackles, and the 49ers would be smart to move him around more than they did as a rookie.
That’s where Morris enters the picture. He’s known for mixing fronts and leaning into both 3-4 and 4-3 looks, which should open the door for Williams to bounce between his usual 4-3 defensive end role and a more interior 3-4 defensive end spot depending on the situation.
Atlanta’s Zach Harrison offers the clearest blueprint. Under Morris last season, Harrison split his snaps almost evenly between the B gap, directly over the offensive tackle, and outside the offensive tackle. Built almost exactly like Williams, Harrison turned that usage into his best season, finishing with five sacks on just 114 pass-rushing reps and a PFF pass-rush grade of 78.
Williams may not be locked into that exact role, but the fit is obvious enough. If Morris uses him with the same kind of flexibility, the second-year defender has a real chance to make the leap 49ers fans have been waiting for.
In Other News...
49ers Look Loaded Everywhere Except The One Unit Fans Still Fear
Sharp Football Analysis sees plenty to like about the 49ers heading into 2026, with the roster landing in the top 10 at four of five positional groups. The offense still looks stacked at receiver and tight end, the offensive line and quarterback spots are well regarded, and the defensive front seven also draws strong marks, which is a reminder of how much talent remains in place around a team trying to stay in the contender conversation.
The one area that still stands out as a concern is the secondary, which Sharp slots 26th and which remains the lone below-average unit on the roster. San Francisco is bringing back all of its starters there, including Deommodore Lenoir, Renardo Green and Upton Stout, while also adding veterans Nate Hobbs and Jack Jones, so the group has both continuity and new faces. Even with Raheem Morris now coordinating the defense and Osa Odighizuwa joining the mix up front, the back end is still the part of this team that feels most likely to decide how far it can go. [Read more 🡒]
Brandon Aiyuk Just Sent 49ers Fans A Loud Message About His Future
Brandon Aiyuk has once again put his future in the spotlight, this time with a social media video that has only added to the chatter around where he might be playing next. The 49ers wide receiver is still under contract after signing his extension in 2024, but the noise around his situation has not gone away, and the latest post has given fans another reason to wonder how long he will remain in San Francisco.
Aiyuk has made it clear he is looking for a fresh start, and that has kept this story alive even without any official movement. For the 49ers, it is a reminder that one of their most talented pass catchers is still at the center of uncertainty, with speculation building while the team waits for the next real development. [Read more 🡒]
Kyle Shanahan May Already Be Bracing For Another Staff Loss
Klay Kubiak has spent the past few seasons climbing quickly inside the 49ers building, and the latest chatter around him suggests that ascent may not stop in San Francisco. Since joining the staff in 2021, he has moved into the offensive coordinator role and held it through 2026, a sign of how much trust Kyle Shanahan has placed in him as the offense has continued to function at a high level.
The bigger question now is how long the 49ers can keep him in the fold. Bleacher Report has already pointed to Kubiak as a possible head-coaching candidate for 2027, and his name carries obvious weight in coaching circles given his family background and the success of his brother, Klint, with the Raiders. For Shanahan, the challenge is familiar: develop assistants, lean on them heavily, and then try to keep them from becoming the next attractive hire elsewhere. [Read more 🡒]