In a recent 2024 NFL re-draft exercise conducted by CBS Sports’ Zachary Pereles, the San Francisco 49ers face a harsh alternate reality.
In this hypothetical reshuffling of the draft board, the 49ers lose two major members of their actual 2024 draft class. Wide receiver Ricky Pearsall, San Francisco’s original first-round selection that year, gets snatched up early at No. 23 overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars, while standout third-round offensive lineman Dominick Puni is off the board at No. 27 to the Arizona Cardinals.
Stripped of their top choices, the 49ers are left with slim pickings by the time they are on the clock at No. 31. Instead of addressing the offense, Pereles has them pivoting to defense by selecting Oregon safety Evan Williams, who was drafted No. 111 overall by the Green Bay Packers in reality.
Running plays that result in short gains sound boring. Not when it’s Evan Williams causing them to be short gains. The Green Bay safety comes screaming down toward the line of scrimmage unlike any other player at his position, and watching it from a defensive point of view is thrilling. Plus, in San Francisco, Fred Warner would help cover up some of Williams’ inconsistencies as a coverage player.
Williams has been highly productive since entering the league in 2024, proving to be a true ballhawk and reliable tackler. He built on an excellent rookie campaign by racking up a massive 100 tackles and three interceptions for Green Bay during the 2025 season, where he became the Packers’ starting safety.
While landing a defensive playmaker like Williams sounds great on paper, it would have left the 49ers scrambling to solve their looming wide receiver and offensive line issues elsewhere in the draft. In reality, having Pearsall and Puni locked in as two young pillars of the roster is a massive win for the front office.
Furthermore, passing on a safety in the first round hasn’t left the 49ers entirely empty-handed, though the position remains a bit of a question mark. San Francisco’s current safety depth leans heavily on the hope of a full, healthy season from Malik Mustapha alongside Ji’Ayir Brown, with Jason Pinnock and Marques Sigle providing depth in rotation.
It is a group with plenty of potential, even if this re-draft highlights just how tempting an elite downhill thumper like Williams could have been. And, despite Pearsall’s injury history, the 49ers are probably happier to have a key youth piece on their offense that could break out in his third NFL season.
This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: 2024 re-draft scenario leaves 49ers swapping pillars for safety help
Reporting by Oliver G., Niners Wire / Niners Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Oliver G., Niners Wire | USA TODAY Network
