Pro Football Network shares bold 1st-round prediction for 49ers' 2025 NFL draft selection

[ASFN Admin]

With 11 picks in the upcoming 2025 NFL draft, San Francisco was content to shed some of its pricier veteran contracts and to watch a lot of production walk.

That lack of free agency movement sets it up to where the 49ers could logically go in a number of different directions with their first pick in the NFL draft. San Francisco owns the No. 11 overall pick and the 49ers have needs across both the offensive and defensive trenches.

Linebacker and secondary help is something San Francisco will need to find in this draft as well.

According to Pro Football Network, the most popular players drafted at No. 11 by 49ers users over the past week with PFN's mock draft simulator have been Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker (15.2%), Ole Miss defensive tackle Walter Nolen (11.4%), Oregon defensive tackle Derrick Harmon (7.8%), Michigan cornerback Will Johnson (7%) and Texas A&M edge rusher Shemar Stewart (6.9%).

But, the NFL draft is oftentimes about surprises and Pro Football Network has a 49ers surprise at pick No. 11. As its potential bold pick by San Francisco, Pro Football Network writes that the 49ers could select Missouri offensive tackle Armand Membou.

The San Francisco 49ers are one of the tougher teams to project in the first round. Due to their free-agent exodus, the Niners could credibly pick an immediate starter at cornerback, edge rusher, defensive tackle, or guard with the No. 11 overall pick.

However, the 49ers have tended to emphasize the trenches with their top picks. Since John Lynch became GM in 2017, San Francisco has spent its first pick on a lineman in five out of eight drafts. If the 49ers pick the best available lineman at No. 11 overall, Missouri’s Armand Membou could be both a short- and long-term solution.

Membou played right tackle at Missouri and could stay there in the short term until Trent Williams retires. The 49ers do have Colton McKivitz returning as the starting right tackle, but he has allowed a pressure rate worse than the league average in both his seasons as a starter. The 49ers could potentially upgrade a premium position in the short term while also giving him time to transition to left tackle with Williams still protecting the blind side. - Pro Football Network.

All of that rationale makes sense for the 49ers and the franchise does need to start planning for the future after Trent Williams.

Membou earned an excellent offensive grade of 90.6 from Pro Football Focus. The 6-foot-4, 332 pound offensive tackle excelled in both run blocking and pass blocking with respective grades of 87.6 and 86.6.

According to PFF, Membou allowed just eight pressures and zero sacks in 2024 with the Tigers.

A native of Lee's Summit, Mo., Membou played in 36 games while at Missouri.

This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: 2025 NFL draft: Pro Football Network's bold 1st-round 49ers prediction

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