For arguably the first time since taking over their respective duties in 2017, San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch are going to rely heavily on rookies to shoulder a load for a forthcoming regular season.
The Niners' offseason overhaul set in place what'll be a massive reliance on first-year pros. And while a good deal of attention will focus on first-round draftee Mykel Williams, the defensive end out of Georgia, a day-two draft pick might actually be San Francisco's biggest rookie X-factor during the 2025 season opener against the Seattle Seahawks.