​Over the past few offseasons, the San Francisco 49ers have increasingly favored younger players, parting ways with several veterans in free agency while drafting 19 players over the last two years. Yet the team remains relatively veteran-heavy, with a number of starters who will be at least 30 this year: Trent Williams, Kyle Juszczyk, Jake Brendel, George Kittle, Mike Evans, Christian McCaffrey, Colton McKivitz, and Christian Kirk. A key part of this approach has been emphasizing development of recent draft picks, with the organization hoping those rookies will step up this season.
The 2025 class included many players who logged substantial playing time, with seven of the 11 picks appearing in at least seven games and several earning starting roles. Looking ahead to the 2026 season, it’s worth evaluating those second-year players to see whether their stock is trending up or down as the season approaches.
DE Mykel Williams Williams was regarded as one of the higher-potential prospects in the 2025 class, but at 20 years old he still had a lot of raw development to undergo, especially as a pass rusher. There was notable progress from his rookie year through most of the 2025 season, though an ACL tear suffered in Week 9 could impact his growth during the offseason. Still, Williams is positioned to be a key starter at the edge opposite Nick Bosa, with additional help from Osa Odighizuwa now in the mix. Verdict: Stock Up.
DT Alfred Collins Collins was among San Francisco’s more productive rookies, appearing in 16 games despite an offseason injury that slowed his start. He developed as the year progressed and, brought in to bolster the run defense, should benefit from playing alongside Odighizuwa and is expected to reclaim a starting role as a second-year pro. Verdict: Stock Up.
LB Nick Martin Martin was one of the bigger question marks from the 2025 draft class, with many evaluators believing the 49ers reached for him in the third round. He was largely a non-factor for much of the year, failing to climb the linebacker rotation amid injuries at the position and mostly contributing on special teams when healthy. This offseason, the 49ers traded Dee Winters while adding Dre Greenlaw, and they also brought in Tatum Bethune, Luke Gifford, and Garrett Wallow, plus they drafted Jaden Dugger in the fifth round, increasing competition inside the room. Martin has a chance to grow during the offseason, but he may still be limited to special-teams duties and depth contributions for the foreseeable future. Verdict: Stock Down.
CB Upton Stout Stout emerged as one of the 49ers’ best stories in 2025, developing into a reliable starter and contributing more than expected for a player with limited draft status. His emergence adds depth and versatility to the secondary. Verdict: Stock Up.