Any rundown of the San Francisco 49ers list of needs in the 2025 NFL draft will include both the offensive and defensive lines near the top of that list.
The 49ers need starting help at three spots on their defensive front. On the offensive line they need a starting left guard, depth at all five positions and perhaps a long-term replacement for left tackle Trent Williams who turns 37 in July.
One NFC scout told ESPN's Matt Miller the 49ers needs are obvious, but the scout isn't sure the 49ers will attack them with the proper urgency because of head coach Kyle Shanahan's history.
"This should be an all-trenches draft if Shanahan can resist picking skill players," the scout said via ESPN.
An "all-trenches draft" may be hyperbolic. San Francisco is slated to have 11 picks and they have other areas of their roster where an injection of youth would be helpful. However, they should be looking to fill their holes in the trenches above all.
The scout is referring to Shanahan's selections of running backs and wide receivers in the third and fourth rounds when the team has clearer needs at other spots. Shanahan has typically prioritized playmakers on offense instead of offensive linemen, but that needs to start changing. All of the best teams in the NFL have stout offensive fronts and increasingly dangerous defensive fronts.
If the 49ers are going to keep up when they turn the page to a new era in San Francisco, it's going to require bolstering the trenches. Shanahan can still target skill players. It just can't come at the expense of quality talent on either the offensive or defensive lines.
This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: 2025 NFL draft: NFC scout unsure 49ers will avoid trap, fill top needs
