Mock draft has 49ers boosting defense with impactful pass rusher
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In his previous mock draft for CBS Sports, Chris Trapasso had the San Francisco 49ers selecting Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan. However, in his latest installment, he shifts focus to the defensive side, predicting that general manager John Lynch will prioritize bolstering the pass rush.
The 49ers parted ways with several defensive linemen this offseason, releasing Javon Hargrave, Leonard Floyd, and Maliek Collins. With that in mind, Trapasso projects San Francisco will select Tennessee defensive end James Pearce Jr. with the No. 11 pick, believing the team won't hesitate if he's still available.
"The 49ers call this pick in immediately," Trapasso wrote. "Pearce is the ideal complement to Nick Bosa in San Francisco, and the 49ers need that defender after losing Leonard Floyd in free agency."
Pearce (6-5, 245) has tallied 17.5 sacks over the past two seasons and 19.5 across his three-year college career. In 2024, he recorded 38 tackles (13 for a loss), 7.5 sacks, a pass defensed, and a forced fumble in 13 games, per Sports Reference. The defensive lineman could be an enticing option for defensive coordinator Robert Saleh's unit.
Pro Football Focus has graded Pearce highly, awarding him an 87.1 defensive grade or better in each of the past two seasons. His career-high 10 sacks in 2023 earned him a 91.9 pass-rush grade, which dipped slightly to a still-respectable 89.4 in 2024.
At the NFL Scouting Combine, Pearce impressed with a blazing 4.47-second 40-yard dash—the fastest among edge rushers. He also posted a 31-inch vertical and a 10-foot-3 broad jump.
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