49ers' 'talent under 25' ranking validates front office's path
Notable defensive names such as Javon Hargrave, Leonard Floyd, Charvarius Ward and Dre Greenlaw all wound up elsewhere.
But, the franchise recognized it needed to get younger.
ESPN's updated talent under 25 rankings is a good illustration of some of what the front office sought out to fix. According to ESPN, the 49ers rank 30th in the NFL's talent under 25 rankings. That's down from the franchise's No. 23 slot a season ago.
Of course, several notable 49ers graduated from that under 25 distinction, including quarterback Brock Purdy, guard Dominick Puni and strong safety Ji'Ayir Brown.
Here's what ESPN said about the 49ers' current talent under 25 situation:
Purdy no longer counts as talent under 25, but the 49ers still have some younger starters. Safety Malik Mustapha, 23, started 12 games in 2024. Linebacker Dee Winters is 24 and started 10 games. Cornerback Renardo Green and wide receiver Ricky Pearsall -- both expected starters in 2025 -- are 24.
Second-round rookie defensive tackle Alfred Collins is 23, and the youngest of the 49ers is their first-round pick, edge rusher Mykel Williams. He turned 21 in late June. - Aaron Schatz, ESPN
Though ESPN's rankings also prove it's not an exact science with teams like the New York Giants and Chicago Bears inside the top five, there are some correlations between the NFL's best and ranking in the upper half of the league in the talent under 25 category. The two teams that met in last season's Super Bowl, the Kansas City Chiefs and world champion Philadelphia Eagles, rank 13th and 14th, respectively.
If the 49ers' 2025 rookie draft class pans out, San Francisco should shoot up these rankings in a hurry. That would be great news for San Francisco's current trajectory and for the long-term health of the franchise.
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