The 2025 49ers Draft Class: How John Lynch Built a Cap-Saving Bridge to the Brock Purdy Era
This analysis is a look back at the 2025 San Francisco 49ers Draft Class now that the books are closed on the season. While the draft received mixed reviews at the time, its impact on the team’s 12–5 record and Divisional Round run was significant — for better and for worse.
1. The Salary Cap: Building a “Rookie Surplus”
John Lynch used the 2025 Draft to build a financial bridge to Brock Purdy’s massive five-year, $265 million extension. By landing 11 draft picks, the 49ers flooded the roster with cost-controlled talent at premium positions.
- Total rookie cap hit: ~$11.8 million
- Veteran savings created: Over $8 million in 2026 cap space
- Dead cap absorbed in 2025: Nearly $86 million
Starting Mykel Williams (Round 1) and Alfred Collins (Round 2) allowed Lynch to move on from higher-priced veterans like Maliek Collins, while Nick Martin (Round 3) and CJ West (Round 4) provided flexibility to restructure or move depth contracts.
2. 2025 Depth Chart Impact
The 2025 draft was a direct response to the “soft” run defense exposed in 2024. Under Robert Saleh, the rookies immediately reshaped the defensive rotation.
| Rookie | 2025 Role | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Mykel Williams (DE) | Day 1 Starter | 1 sack, ACL injury in Week 9 |
| Alfred Collins (DT) | Rotational Anchor | Key to 4th-ranked interior run defense |
| Nick Martin (LB) | Sub-package / ST | Filled in during Fred Warner ankle injury |
| Upton Stout (CB) | Starting Nickel | Allowed 78.4 passer rating |
| Jordan James (RB) | Change of Pace | 4.8 YPC while McCaffrey sidelined |
3. The Injury Factor: Successes and Failures
The 2025 season was defined by injuries — and the draft class was the reason the roster didn’t collapse.
Critics also noted that Mykel Williams and Nick Martin entered the league with injury red flags — a storyline that remains relevant heading into 2026.
4. Full 2025 Draft Contribution Breakdown
| Round | Player | Position | 2025 Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mykel Williams | DL | Instant impact, wAV 4 |
| 2 | Alfred Collins | DT | Rotational anchor, wAV 2 |
| 3 | Nick Martin | LB | Special teams and injury fill-in |
| 3 | Upton Stout | CB | Starting nickel, wAV 2 |
| 4 | CJ West | DT | Interior depth |
| 4 | Jordan Watkins | WR | Developmental depth |
| 5 | Jordan James | RB | Valuable reserve |
| 5 | Marques Sigle | S | 15 games, wAV 3 |
| 7 | Kurtis Rourke | QB | Developmental |
| 7 | Connor Colby | OL | Reserve tackle |
| 7 | Junior Bergen | WR | Special teams focus |
5. Rookie Salary Cap Impact
The 2025 draftees generated roughly $30 million in surplus value compared to equivalent veteran contracts. That surplus made the Bryce Huff trade and Purdy extension possible.
| Player | Round | 2025 Cap Hit | Value Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mykel Williams | 1 | $4,535,155 | Elite value for starting DE |
| Alfred Collins | 2 | $1,877,041 | Starter-level output |
| Nick Martin | 3 | $1,170,157 | Warner insurance |
| Upton Stout | 3 | $1,123,113 | Massive steal |
| Jordan James | 5 | $952,980 | Critical RB depth |
| Connor Colby | 7 | $868,477 | League-minimum LT depth |
Final Verdict
The 2025 draft was never about headlines. It was about stability. John Lynch didn’t chase stars — he built a financial and competitive bridge into the Brock Purdy era.
Quiet draft. Massive consequences. And one of the most important classes of the Shanahan–Lynch era.
LABELS
49ers Draft, John Lynch, Brock Purdy, Salary Cap, NFL Draft Analysis, 49ers Roster, 2025 NFL Draft, Shanahan Era
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