The 49ers of San Francisco met several needs in the NFL draft. They checked the defensive tackle, the Rusher Edge, the second and defensive return of the list.
The defense of the Niners was excruciating in 2024. In all honesty, Javon Hargrave’s injury meant that a backup was going to play the majority of the season – which would distort the following figures. However, San Francisco finished 29th in total EPA, EPA authorized and 25th at the defensive success rate.
These figures are the reason why Pro Football Network thinks that CJ West will be the prospect that goes beyond expectations as a recruit:
Given the thin depth of the 49ers inside their defensive line, the granular and disruptive energy of CJ West could make him a precious play at the start of his recruit season. An experienced player, West made a name for himself by doing the dirty job and constantly freeing players around him. He was a tones for the defense of the renovated Indiana race, helping to raise it from one of the weakest Big Ten to one of the best in the country.
Although West lacks length of elite and first -stage explosion, he has the features to have an impact on the first stockings. His performances against Ohio State and Michigan suggest that he can hold is specific to the NFL caliber competition. West will have to develop as a rusher of passes, but it could immediately this defense as a Stumper.
Last season, the Hoosiers directed La Défense finished Elite in “Stuff Rate”, lines by race and second level yards – all the signs they had a solid interior defensive line.
West starting 46 of the 53 games in which he played should allow West to see the field earlier as a recruit, thanks to this experience. When you look at the Indiana, you see a player with a high engine that finds a way to regularly cause chaos behind the melee line. This is the type of player you want in the tackle of the nose.
The Hoosiers used the West in twists and turns, cascades and various games in advance, so the 49ers will not have to guess if it can be effective in motion. These types of games allow players to handle their number of pressure. West finished second in the NFL draft among the defensive plasters in percentage of rapid pressure.
You cannot find your path in 10 plated for the loss when you play 3/4 of your shots in the center. There is a lot of solid reasoning that would lead you to believe that West will surpass his slot machine as a recruit.
