Why 49ers top draft pick has already impressed his new coach
San Francisco used all five of its first 2025 NFL draft picks on the defensive side of the football, including its first-round selection at No. 11 overall on Georgia defensive lineman Mykel Williams.
Williams tallied 67 tackles, 21.5 tackles for loss, 14 sacks, three passes defensed, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery across 40 games in three seasons with the Bulldogs. The 6-foot-5, 267-pound defensive end started 17 games during his Georgia career.
Now, Williams is tasked with fortifying the 49ers' defensive edge and its pass rush. On Thursday, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan was asked if Williams is pretty well advanced for a rookie.
"Yeah, I would say so. Just watching the style of how he played in college, he's just technical and stuff. I thought that jumped out on his tape the most, how good he is with his hands. A lot of pass rushers coming out of college who are talented like him and just use their talent, but he's as good with his hands as anyone I've seen coming out. And it's transferred over to practice too," Shanahan said.
San Francisco is getting a good early look at Williams with some of its one-on-one pass rushing drills. Shanahan shared what the staff can glean from its one-one-one pass rushing drills during training camp.
"The same as all one-on-ones, just it's able to isolate it. You can really see how a guy blocks with no help around him and you can really see how a guy's just teeing off and all he has to worry about is going to the quarterback.
"Then you get out there on 11-on-11 and there's a lot more scheme involved, there's a lot more other guys, knowing what play's happening and there's so much that goes into it. But you get a situation where you can just truly focus on blocking and rushing and that's the hardest time to do it for a blocker and the best time for a pass rusher. And same with one-on-ones for receivers/corners, should be the best time for a receiver and the toughest for a corner without a pass rush, but it truly can show what guys are capable of doing in their total level of talent," Shanahan said.
Williams has been impressing early during his time in San Francisco. The former Georgia Bulldog has garnered some first-team work opposite five-time Pro Bowler Nick Bosa.
Williams has already drawn praise from future Hall of Fame left tackle Trent Williams, which is another positive sign as his rookie season approaches.
This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: 49ers rookie Mykel Williams impressing Kyle Shanahan in training camp
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