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USA Today
23-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
PFF goes chalk with their three best 49ers entering the 2025 NFL season
PFF goes chalk with their three best 49ers entering the 2025 NFL season Despite going 6-11 and finishing in fourth place in the NFC West, followed up by losing key players like Deebo Samuel, Leonard Floyd, Charvarius Ward and De'Vondre Campbell this offseason, the San Francisco 49ers still have a very talented roster entering the 2025 season. In fact, if San Francisco can keep most of their top guys healthy this year, there's a real chance that they make the playoffs again and could make a run once they get there. Looking at the 49ers depth chart in late-May, it's not hard to pick out who some of the best players are, and Pro Football Focus' Trevor Sikkema recently did this exercise for every team in the league, and for San Francisco, he identified Nick Bosa, Fred Warner and George Kittle as their top three. Bosa, 27, is coming off his fifth Pro Bowl in six years in 2024 after playing in 14 games and recording 52 tackles (15 for a loss), 24 quarterback hits, nine sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovered and an interception. Warner, 28, made earned All-Pro honors and made the Pro Bowl for the fourth time last year. In 17 games, he finished with 131 tackles (five for a loss), seven passes defensed, four forced fumbles, two quarterback hits, two interceptions and a sack. His consistent play got him a three-year, $63 million extension this offseason that made him the highest paid linebacker in NFL history. Kittle, 31, earned All-Pro honors for the fifth time in his career and made the Pro Bowl for the sixth time in 2024. He caught 78 passes for 1,106 yards and eight touchdowns in 15 games last year. There are certainly arguments to be made for other players like Trent Williams, Brandon Aiyuk and Christian McCaffrey. However, with Williams getting older, Aiyuk returning from a torn ACL and McCaffrey coming off another injury-riddled season, it makes sense why they weren't Sikkema's picks. Strong performances from any of them in 2025, combined with a bit of a drop-off from the others could result in any of those three claiming one of the top spots next year.
Washington Post
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
First-round picks Walker and Pearce headline Falcons' rookie minicamp and revamped pass rush
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Atlanta Falcons' commitment to boosting their pass rush was on display at their rookie minicamp on Friday, with edge rushers Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr ., each drafted in the first round, on the practice field. Free agent Leonard Floyd also was added to boost a pass rush that has been a persistent weak spot.
Associated Press
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
First-round picks Walker and Pearce headline Falcons' rookie minicamp and revamped pass rush
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons' commitment to boosting their pass rush was on display at their rookie minicamp on Friday, with edge rushers Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr., each drafted in the first round, on the practice field. Free agent Leonard Floyd also was added to boost a pass rush that has been a persistent weak spot. Atlanta finished next-to-last in sacks in 2024. It marked the third time in the past four years the Falcons ranked in the bottom two in the league in that category. 'I get beat up all year about not getting sacks, and that's got to change,' coach Raheem Morris said Friday. 'And the only way you can change that is to change that. And that was a part of the process. Very intentional, going out and trying to fix the edge room.' After selecting Walker from Georgia at No. 15 overall, the Falcons traded back into the first round to take Tennessee's Pearce at No. 26. The Falcons sent the Rams their 2026 first-round pick as well as second-round and seventh-round selections in this year's draft. The Falcons also obtained a third-round selection from the Rams and then made another deal, moving up in the third round, to select Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts. The Falcons were criticized for giving up too much to get Pearce after signing Floyd and drafting Walker, but Morris said Friday: 'It's very intentional to go out and fix our rush to find ... pressure players.' Morris said it was important for Atlanta 'to be able to add three guys that were not here last year that you expect to have significant roles in your pass rush and your pressure players.' The Falcons finished 8-9 last season, their seventh consecutive losing record. Their last playoff appearance came in 2017. The Falcons had 41 players at the minicamp, with five draft picks joining undrafted free agents and players in camp on a tryout basis. ___ AP NFL:
USA Today
18-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
ESPN lays out plan 49ers must follow to make up for slow free agency, win NFL draft
ESPN lays out plan 49ers must follow to make up for slow free agency, win NFL draft There's a clear path the San Francisco 49ers must follow in the 2025 NFL draft after their slow free agency left them lacking starters or depth at almost every position. Free agency was used as a sign the 49ers may not be competitive this season, but they can return to the Super Bowl conversation if they nail the draft. Finding good players is always the key to a good draft, but the 49ers have put themselves in a spot where the position those players play could have an outsized impact on their season. That's why the plan ESPN's Ben Solak laid out is vital for San Francisco. Here's part of that plan via ESPN: Without question, the biggest need is along the defensive line, where over 1,400 snaps are out the door following the departures of Leonard Floyd, Maliek Collins and Javon Hargrave -- it would have been even more if Hargrave had not torn his triceps in Week 3. It's extremely unlikely Mason Graham (Michigan) even makes it into trade-up range, though he'd be a perfect scheme fit; and it's too early for Derrick Harmon (Oregon). Given the need for multiple rookies to take snaps in a rotation, I don't mind the 49ers passing at No. 11 if the board doesn't fall their way, then attacking the position with multiple picks on Day 2. As such, finding a starting left guard who can potentially take over at left tackle for Trent Williams is the ideal scenario -- and that's where the board is friendly. Will Campbell (LSU) and Kelvin Banks Jr. (Texas) are exactly those prospects, while Armand Membou (Missouri) can also fit the bill by flipping from the right side to the left. I expect a G/T hybrid to be the pick here, unless an edge rusher (Marshall's Mike Green or Georgia's Jalon Walker?) really catches the team's eye. Outside of Round 1, I could see the 49ers picking just about any defensive position. Beside the aforementioned desperation at defensive tackle, depth and developmental starters are needed at cornerback, linebacker, safety and edge rusher. They should happily sit on their picks and let the board come to them -- they need all the cheap contracts they can get and should eschew trade-ups accordingly. Solak hits the nail on the head with this outlook for San Francisco. They need to hit on picks, but they need to give themselves as many options as possible in this draft. With 11 selections, they're poised to give themselves a lot of darts to throw at a board that will ultimately decide what the future of the John Lynch-Kyle Shanahan tenure looks like. Moving down to accumulate more picks makes far more sense than moving up, and prioritizing the trenches where their lack of depth hurt them last season are the two things that make the most sense for the 49ers. If they're leaving this year's draft with fewer than 11 picks it would be a minor disappointment.
Associated Press
17-04-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Falcons expected to take advantage of NFL draft's deep pool of edge rushers to boost poor pass rush
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons are expected to take advantage of the NFL draft's deep pool of edge rushers even after addressing the need in free agency. The only question may be if the Falcons will look for pass rush help with the No. 15 overall pick or wait until later in the draft. The Falcons have only five picks in the draft, including the No. 46 pick in the second round. Atlanta signed Leonard Floyd to a one-year, $10 million deal to add experience and punch to a pass rush after finishing next to last in the league with 31 sacks in 2024. Floyd, 32, had 8 1/2 sacks for San Francisco last season. The Falcons also signed free-agent defensive end Morgan Fox, who played the past three seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers. Coach Raheem Morris said the Falcons can't put too much emphasis on boosting the pass rush. 'I think you can't have enough edge,' Morris told reporters at the annual league meeting this month. 'You know, I think that's got to be something that you're always constantly doing. ... You play a bunch of different people. You got to get a chance to roll those guys around. You can make the movement you have to make necessarily go out there and try to win matchups. And I think you want to continue to add those guys as much as you can.' Georgia's Mykel Williams and Marshall's Mike Green could be available at No. 15. Trade talk The Falcons could have interest in trading down in the first round to add depth to their draft. They currently have picks in the second and fourth rounds before closing their draft with two selections in the seventh round. Because edge rushers are a strength of the draft, the Falcons could move down in the first round, perhaps for a third-round pick, and still find pass-rush help. Need Cornerback also ranks high on the Falcons' list of needs. A.J. Terrell is set at one cornerback spot, but Atlanta could look for help with one of its first selections. Atlanta released two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, who signed with Chicago. The move opens a spot for 2024 second-round pick Ruke Orhorhoro to join David Onyemata at tackle, but Morris noted the Falcons scouted defensive tackles in preparation for the draft. Safety and tight end also could be positions Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot look to address in the draft. Neuzil set for full-time role Morris said the Falcons are comfortable with Ryan Neuzil, who started eight games last season, moving up at center to replace Drew Dalman, who also signed with Chicago. Quarterback plan Despite Morris saying the Falcons 'feel very strongly' about keeping Kirk Cousins as the backup to starting quarterback Michael Penix Jr., the coach didn't rule out trading the veteran. If trading Cousins is the real plan, then drafting a backup for Penix would make sense. Don't need Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier make running back a position of strength. Wide receiver and guard also do not rate as pressing draft needs. ___ AP NFL:
