49ers selected Georgia EDGE Mykel Williams with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
A consensus top-50 high school recruit, Williams (6’5/260) stepped in right away, playing 15 games for the national champs and making the 2022 Freshman All-America team. He would go on to receive Second Team All-SEC recognition each of the last two years while shuttling between three tech and edge thanks to his lengthy 34 3/8th-inch arms and prodigious play strength. His length can lead to a high pad level at times, with rangy blockers popping him in the chest and knocking him off his rush line. Despite a rocked-up frame that’s ideal for NFL base edge work, Williams is still raw in his development and posted a modest 11.7 percent pass rush win rate last year with 26 pressures in 249 pass reps. He’s farther along as a run defender, having posted 80th+ percentile run-defense grade in each of the last two seasons with a team-leading 15.0 havoc plays created. Williams’ brisk first step and pro-ready power will play immediately at the next level, especially in run support where he has a penchant for rag-dolling blockers. Ideally, his hand fighting and pass rush skills evolve, as Williams has all the tools to become an every-down base Edge player in the NFL.