Let’s talk about Mykel Williams, because the San Francisco 49ers’ rookie defensive player is already making waves that have the whole NFL buzzing. As soon as he stepped onto the practice field, Williams showed exactly why the Niners faithful are so pumped about his potential. The last defensive rookie to turn heads like this in San Francisco? None other than Nick Bosa, and that’s the kind of company Williams is keeping right now.
Let’s dive into Mykel Williams’ stats and see what they tell us about this rookie defensive end for the San Francisco 49ers. Since Williams was drafted in the 2025 NFL Draft and hasn’t played regular-season games yet, we’ll focus on his college stats from Georgia, which give us a solid picture of what he’s bringing to the Niners.
Over his three-year college career with the Bulldogs, Williams racked up 67 tackles, 21.5 tackles for loss, and 14 sacks across 40 games. He also forced three fumbles and batted down three passes, earning second-team All-SEC honors in 2023 and 2024. Breaking it down year by year, his freshman season in 2022 saw him play 15 games with two starts, notching 28 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks—good enough for Freshman All-American and SEC All-Freshman honors. In 2023, he started 10 of 13 games, tallying 18 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, two pass breakups, and a forced fumble. His final year in 2024, despite battling a high ankle sprain, included 12 games with six starts, where he posted 21 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, five sacks, two forced fumbles, and a pass breakup.
What jumps out here is Williams’ ability to disrupt plays, especially against the run. His 21.5 tackles for loss show he’s got a knack for getting into the backfield, and his 14 sacks highlight his potential as a pass rusher, even if he’s still developing in that area. The fact that he played through a lingering ankle injury in 2024 and still put up 8.5 tackles for loss and five sacks speaks to his toughness—something the 49ers clearly valued when they picked him 11th overall.
Now, looking at his physical profile, Williams is a 6’5”, 260-pound edge rusher with a massive 82 7/8-inch wingspan and a 4.77-second 40-yard dash at his pro day. Those numbers scream potential for a guy who can set the edge against the run, which aligns with his college tape where he was a standout run defender. His pass-rushing skills, though, are still a work in progress—scouts have noted he relies heavily on raw strength and athleticism rather than refined technique, which might explain why his sack totals, while solid, weren’t eye-popping for a first-round pick.
For the 49ers, Williams’ stats and traits suggest he’s a perfect fit to complement Nick Bosa. His run-stopping ability—backed by those tackles for loss—should help bolster a defensive line that struggled last season, finishing 23rd in run defense DVOA. While his pass-rush numbers aren’t elite yet, his 14 college sacks and ability to generate pressure (like the 15 QB hurries he had in 2024) show there’s upside for him to grow into a more complete edge rusher under the guidance of defensive coordinator Robert Saleh and defensive line coach Kris Kocurek.
