The San Francisco 49ers bolstered their defense by drafting Mykel Williams, an outstanding defensive end from the Georgia Bulldogs, with the 11th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. The franchise was particularly eager to acquire Williams, having explored options to trade up for a chance to secure him.

A Promising Addition to the Defense

Mykel Williams has garnered attention for his impressive physical attributes and has already established himself as a formidable run defender. Following his selection, 49ers General Manager John Lynch praised Williams, stating, “He’s the best edge setter in college football. He’s the best edge setter in this draft class. If that’s the premise of one of the things that’s a hallmark of what we want in an edge guy, he does it extremely well.”

Achievements at Georgia

During his three-year stint at Georgia, Williams played a pivotal role in the Bulldogs’ success, contributing to a national championship and two SEC titles. His performance remained consistent, as he achieved at least 4.5 sacks in each season, although his 2024 season was impacted by an ankle injury.

An Exciting Draft Call

Upon receiving the call from the 49ers, Williams expressed his enthusiasm, responding with “Yes sir!” when asked if he was ready to join the team. He shared the exciting moment with his family and was quickly welcomed by eager members of the 49ers organization.

“We’re so fired up to get you, man,” Lynch told Williams during the call. “We’ve been sitting here nervous about going up. I tried to go up. Didn’t work, but we got you here! So, we are so damn fired up, man. You’re going to be great for us, man, and the entire building got behind this.”

The atmosphere in the 49ers’ draft room was filled with celebration as they welcomed Williams into the fold, an indication of their strong belief in his potential impact on the team.