49ers have one ESPN analyst's favorite to win Defensive Rookie of the Year
49ers have one ESPN analyst's favorite to win Defensive Rookie of the Year
The San Francisco 49ers desperately need to connect on some of their picks from this year's draft. One ESPN analyst thinks they'll do so with at least their first-round pick.
ESPN's Ben Solak went through the rookie of the year candidates on both sides of the ball and came up with his own list that wasn't set by betting odds. While 49ers first-round pick Mykel Williams is third in the BetMGM Defensive Rookie of the Year odds, he lands atop Solak's list ahead of his college teammate and Atlanta Falcons first-round pick Jalon Walker.
Via ESPN:
Neither Williams nor Walker was super productive in college, but both have landed in defenses that can maximize their skill sets. Williams will play under legendary defensive line coach Kris Kocurek, who will free him up to play faster off the line than he ever did at Georgia. Walker will play under coach Raheem Morris, who excelled at featuring a rushing linebacker in Kaden Elliss last season. Williams' play style and role lends itself to a little more pass-rush production than Walker's outlook, as we should expect Walker to spend some time dropping into coverage. As such, I give Williams the edge.
One key to the 49ers' success this season will be the production from their rookies, and particularly from Williams who figures to start at the defensive end spot opposite Nick Bosa. Being good in the run game isn't going to win Williams any awards, though.
If he's winning a DROY it's because he put together an excellent pass-rushing season, which would provide a lift for a group that struggled to affect the quarterback last year. The 49ers need more than one pick to pan out, but a DROY campaign from Williams would be their quickest path to returning to dominance on defense.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
24 minutes ago
- CBS News
Mac Jones embraces fresh start with 49ers after getting passed over in 2021 NFL Draft
Mac Jones is happy finally to be with coach Kyle Shanahan and the San Francisco 49ers even if it came four years after many expected. Jones was linked to San Francisco leading into the 2021 draft but was passed over and ended up in New England. Now after an up and down first four years in the NFL, Jones is trying to revive his career as a backup to Brock Purdy in Shanahan's offense. "Obviously the world works in mysterious ways," Jones said Wednesday. "I'm glad to be back here and learning from a great group of guys, and that's players and coaches. You go where you go in the draft, right? You don't get a lot of choice over that, but I'm definitely excited to be here now." Jones and San Francisco were closely linked leading up to the 2021 draft after the Niners traded three first-round picks to get the No. 3 overall selection. Shanahan was looking to draft a franchise quarterback and was debating between Jones and Trey Lance before San Francisco finally opted for Lance. San Francisco 49ers quarterback Mac Jones (10) throws the ball during San Francisco 49ers OTA on June 4, 2025 at SAP Performance Facility in Santa Clara. Matthew Huang/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images The move backfired as Lance struggled to stay healthy and adjust to Shanahan's system. He made only four starts in two seasons before being traded to Dallas for a fourth-round pick in August 2023, having lost the starting job to Purdy, the last pick in the 2022 draft. Jones had a fast start to his career, helping New England make the playoffs in his rookie season. But Jones regressed the next year after offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels left for Las Vegas, and he was replaced as the starter in 2023. Jones was traded to Jacksonville last March and started seven games for the Jaguars, throwing eight TD passes and eight interceptions. Jones has made 49 career starts, posting an 84.9 passer rating with 54 TD passes, 44 interceptions and averaging 6.7 yards per attempt. He said he didn't hesitate to pick San Francisco in his first shot at free agency and has hopes a stint as a backup here can spark his career in a similar fashion to what happened to Sam Darnold after he spent the 2023 season with the Niners. "I always love watching their tape," Jones said. "When you look at stats around the league, they're always in the top five, you see the little San Francisco logo. So I always love watching what Kyle did throughout the years and to finally get in and learn it, it's been a little bit challenging, but also a great challenge because it's things, some things I've done and some things I haven't done at all." Jones has had a different play caller every season in the NFL and said learning another new offense is like "drinking from a water hose." Quarterbacks coach Mick Lombardi said that experience pays dividends this spring. "He's not new to this," Lombardi said. "He's not new to kind of new terminology new footwork and how to be coached differently. The one thing I love about Mac is he's always here. He's always willing to try new try new things. He's not stuck in his ways, and he really wants to try and do it our way." Lombardi and Jones have familiarity with Lombardi serving as receivers coach in New England when Jones was a rookie in 2021. Jones and Purdy have a relationship that goes even further, with Jones hosting Purdy on a recruiting visit to Alabama in 2018 and the two have thrown together in the offseason near Jacksonville before Jones signed with San Francisco. "We talked about that and joked around with it a little bit, just him being at Alabama and really before he took off too with his career and the amazing, obviously the National Championship run he had and then getting drafted and everything," Purdy said. "It's pretty cool. We were both just young kids both heading into college and then now here we are on the same team. It's pretty cool."
Fox News
44 minutes ago
- Fox News
ESPN's Stephen A Smith floats hypothetical Ukraine-Russia strategy if he were president
Stephen A. Smith had a tough question put onto his lap during Wednesday's edition of "First Take" – would he rather be president of the United States or the next New York Knicks head coach? Smith had to think about it as he's floated the possibility of running for president and has added his voice to some of the hot-button political issues debated in that particular arena. But the Knicks also fired Tom Thibodeau and have a position open. The ESPN personality didn't necessarily like the idea of working under Knicks team owner James Dolan and said he may like to be president more than the next head coach for the team in orange and blue. "Can you see Stephen A. trying to negotiate the Ukraine-Russia situation?" Chris "Mad Dog" Russo asked. "I wouldn't try to negotiate it. I would work with the European Union. I would work with the United Nations. I would do what I could to empower us. I don't want to give Ukraine unlimited funds, but I know that Russia's ultimate quest is to recapture Europe and I don't want that to happen. Therefore, I would help out Ukraine." Russo applauded Smith but hedged on going any further in the political realm. Smith told ABC News in April that he had no choice but to consider a presidential run. "I have no choice, because I've had elected officials — and I'm not going to give their names — coming up to me. I've had folks who are pundits come up to me. I've had folks that got a lot of money, billionaires and others, that have talked to me about exploratory committees and things of that nature. I'm not a politician. I've never had a desire to be a politician," Smith said. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
ESPN Anchor Gives Prognosis Before He Undergoes Cancer Surgery
Longtime ESPN anchor Jay Harris said Thursday he has prostate cancer and will undergo surgery next week. (Watch the video below.) The 'SportsCenter' veteran said on 'Good Morning America' he'll be away from work for about a month, 'and then I'm coming back better than ever.' Asked by host Michael Strahan about the prognosis, Harris replied, 'My doctor is quite optimistic. Per my last scan, nothing has spread. So once we take out the prostate, hopefully that'll be it.' Harris said he has been taking advice from 'SportsCenter' colleague Hannah Storm, who recently announced she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Harris also said he has received 'real talk' from another ESPN personality, Brian Custer, a prostate cancer survivor. Harris, 60, has been on the 'SportsCenter' desk since 2003. He said he wanted to share his diagnosis to encourage Black men to get the conversation going about their health issues. 'By not talking about them,' he said, 'we ... sentence ourselves to death by not talking.' ESPN And Anchor Part Ways After 25 Years -- And His Goodbye Is Bittersweet Shannon Sharpe Will 'Step Aside' From ESPN Amid $50 Million Sexual Assault Lawsuit ESPN's Stephen A. Smith Seriously Considering Running For President
