The 49ers walked away from the 2025 NFL Draft with 11 new players, and there’s already buzz about how much of an impact this class could make, especially on defense. But what’s even more interesting is how San Francisco went about making their picks. According to defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, the 49ers’ process isn’t just thorough; it’s different.
In a candid moment this week, Saleh pulled back the curtain on how the 49ers operate behind the scenes.
“This organization, and no pun intended, [is] the gold standard when it comes to collaboration and communication,” he said.
Most NFL teams spend about a week hashing things out between scouts and coaches. The 49ers? They spend three to four weeks diving deep into film, breaking down every position, even studying potential undrafted free agents. That level of commitment isn’t just talk, it’s how the team consistently finds talent beyond the first few rounds. Think Fred Warner or Dre Greenlaw, both were Day 3 picks who became defensive stars.
Saleh’s Fingerprints All Over 49ers’ 2025 Draft Class
It’s no secret that Saleh had influence over this year’s picks, the first five players drafted were all on defense. But even he gives credit to the team’s group effort.
“I was standing in the back of the room like, ‘Hey, I got a guy,’” he joked. “But there was tremendous collaboration through the process. Kyle [Shanahan] and John [Lynch] do an unbelievable job.”
That trust and communication may explain why the 49ers keep hitting on late-round picks and unearthing hidden gems. With a defense-heavy draft and Saleh back on the sidelines, San Francisco looks set to bounce back in 2025.
“There’s a lot of empathy for what happened to the group last year. There was a lot of things that, through the halfway point, this defense was playing some really good football, and there were a lot of injuries, and the wheels kind of fell off during the last four weeks of the season. So, for the coaching staff and the players, there’s a lot of empathy in terms of like, ‘Man, you’re doing your best, [but] it just didn’t work out.’”
San Francisco needs a major step up from their defense in 2025. With Saleh back in the fold and a defense-heavy draft, they may be on their way to figuring things out on that side of the ball and returning to contention. This year? The 49ers are doing everything they can to make sure it does.
Related: Ranking the Worst Draft Picks in the History of the NFL
