The 49ers have consistently been an elite team over the past few seasons but have failed to return to the NFC title game or Super Bowl as they typically do with Kyle Shanahan primarily due to the lackluster defense as the offense has remained elite over the past two seasons. The team will be on their third defensive coordinator in as many seasons during this upcoming campaign with the newly hired Raheem Morris. I will go into detail assessing the 49ers’ personnel on the defensive side of the ball, starting here with the front seven of the team.
Starting at the first of the two edge rusher spots is 2025 fourth round pick CJ West who had a forgettable rookie season. Despite performing poorly as a rookie, Raheem Morris and Kyle Shanahan still have him listed as a starter. Perhaps he could come into his own heading into year 2 in the NFL. He will need to be on his A game as the 49ers lack another capable edge defender to replace him as of now.
Set to start at nose tackle is 2025 2nd rounder Alfred Collins who also performed poorly as a rookie. Likewise, the 49ers’ coaching staff must still believe in Collins to have him as the starter despite a poor rookie campaign. Collins was drafted very highly which likely led to him being listed as the starter despite looking very subpar in his time on the field thus far.
Set to start at the other edge rusher spot is former third rounder Osa Odighizuwa who has shown some promise in the NFL thus far and is a solid player for San Francisco. In all four seasons outside of his rookie year, Odighizuwa has graded in the above average to well above average range every single time. Although he may not be a star, he is a good to a very good NFL starter.
Standout Nick Bosa is currently listed as the starter at the will linebacker spot and is amongst the best overall players in the NFL. Bosa saw a season ending injury during the 2025 season but still looked elite during his time on the field. Bosa is set to turn only 29 years old during this upcoming season but is coming off a major injury for the 2nd time in his career so it will be interesting to see how Bosa looks in his return to the field. However, if Bosa does not see a big drop off due to injury, he will be among the best overall players in the NFL and among the leading sack getters.
Linebacker Dre Greenlaw is set to start at one of the other linebacker spots and although he is not a star, he is certainly very good. Greenlaw consistently has graded in the above average to well above average range in every season of his career thus far. Greenlaw on one occasion graded as one of the premier starting linebackers in the sport as well.
Superstar linebacker Fred Warner just like Bosa is amongst the best overall players in the NFL and is also coming off a season ending injury. Warner is likely the best linebacker in the sport serving as the QB of the 49ers’ defense. Warner on three separate occasions in his career has graded as the best overall player at his position according to Pro Football Focus. While Warner has consistently graded in the elite range in that regard every single season since entering his prime.
Rounding out the 49ers’ starting front seven is 2025 1st rounder Mykel Williams who did not have a great rookie season but was not awful. Given his decent play at times as a rookie and his very high draft standing, Williams will be in line to break out as a star heading into next season for the 49ers. However, the production that San Francisco will get from him remains a big question mark as he did not look great as a rookie.
From a depth standpoint in the front seven the 49ers have some notable names that could serve the team well as high end backups or even transitioning to a starting role in the case of injury and/or if the 2025 rookies currently listed as starters do not improve. Interior defensive lineman Evan Anderson played at an above average clip as a rookie in 2024 in limited snaps but did not play in 2025. 2025 third rounder Nick Martin barely played as a rookie but looked decent in his time on the field and was drafted pretty high. Former second rounder Keion White has looked very good at times in the NFL but has lacked in consistency but has shown he was indeed worthy of being drafted so high from time to time. Former seventh rounder Jalen Graham has looked very good in just 39 career snaps and could prove to be a strong reserve option for San Francisco. The 49ers also drafted players in the third and fourth round in the 2026 draft to provide additional depth in the front seven. A breakdown of the 49ers’ starting front seven can be found below as the 49ers have one of the most talented front sevens in the sport.
Starters
LDE – CJ West – 2025 4th round pick, D- as rookie
NT – Alfred Collins – 2025 2nd round pick, D- as rookie
RDE – Osa Odighizuwa – B to B+
WLB – Nick Bosa- A
LILB – Dre Greenlaw – B+
RILB – Fred Warner – A to A+
SLB – Mykel Williams – 1st round pick, C- as rookie
Noteworthy Reserves
NT – Evan Anderson – B- as rookie in ’24, DNP in ’25
LB – Nick Martin – 2025 3rd rounder, decent in 15 rookie snaps
LB – Keion White – Former second round pick, has looked strong at times but far too inconsistent
LB – Jalen Graham – B to B+ in just 39 career snaps
LB – Romello Height – 2026 3rd rounder
The 49ers have two future hall of famers in their primes in Nick Bosa and Fred Warner set to start in their front seven, although both are coming off serious season ending injuries. The 49ers have two more above average to well above average starters in their front seven as well. San Francisco also has two 1st/2nd round picks from 2025 in line to start as well but both had disappointing rookie years, however. The 49ers’ starting front seven has the potential to rank up there with any in the sport this upcoming season. It will just be a matter of health and if the young players with promise can come into their own. The depth that the 49ers have in their front seven is solid but not spectacular as well, if the 49ers’ front seven plays to their potential and stays healthy, it can rank among the best in the game next season.
