The 49ers’ 2025 draft class gave San Francisco something it badly needed: young players who could step in fast. And according to former defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, one rookie in particular turned more heads than the rest.
Saleh, speaking this past weekend with NBC Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco, pointed to defensive tackle Alfred Collins as the class’ biggest surprise. Collins entered the league as a second-round pick, but Saleh said the real jump came after training camp.
“It’s a shame Mykel’s season got cut short. Really excited for C.J.
West and his development, even Alfred,” Saleh said, via Maiocco. “Like Alfred, I know he was a second-round pick and all, but he’s still probably the biggest surprise to me in terms of just how much better he got from training camp.”
“As the season went on, I really think he’s going to be special. His mindset to get better, his work ethic, he’s only going to get better. And when it triggers for him, he’s going to be a bear to stop.”
That praise fits the way the 49ers’ rookie class unfolded in 2025. After several veterans left in free agency the previous offseason, San Francisco leaned on its draft picks early.
Mykel Williams and Collins became starters and important pieces on the defensive line. Third-rounder Upton Stout took over the nickel job.
Day 3 selections C.J. West and Marques Sigle both saw early snaps.
Seventh-round pick Connor Colby even made a few starts at left guard.
The production wasn’t uniform across the board, though. Williams showed real growth over his first 11 games as both a run defender and pass rusher before a torn ACL ended his season in the second half.
Collins and West were pushed into bigger roles at defensive tackle, and the run defense improved after both were on the field later in the year. Stout, after some rough stretches early, became arguably the most impactful defender in the secondary over the back half of the season.
Sigle and Colby both had their early ups and downs before settling into reserve roles.
Collins is now expected to start next to newcomer Osa Odighizuwa at defensive tackle this season, while West should again have a significant role. With Odighizuwa added and Nick Bosa back from injury, the 49ers will be looking to climb from a pass rush that finished last in sacks last season.
There will be a new voice running the defense in 2026, with Raheem Morris set to replace Saleh as coordinator. But the foundation of that unit still looks tied to what the 49ers got from this rookie class, and Saleh made it clear Collins left the strongest impression.
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