49ers prioritize offense in 1st round of 2025 mock draft

In its latest 2025 NFL mock draft, The 33rd Team likes San Francisco to prioritize the offensive side of the football with the No. 11 overall selection.

In The 33rd Team’s latest mock, the 49ers scoop up All-American left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. from the Texas Longhorns. A former five-star signee, Banks just completed his junior season with the Longhorns after Ohio State topped Texas in the College Football Playoff semifinals.

Though Banks has yet to declare for the 2025 NFL draft, he is a surefire first-round selection if he does.

Banks could make a lot of sense for San Francisco at No. 11 if he is available there.

The 49ers could draft Banks and have him sit behind and learn from All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams. Shifting Banks to right tackle could be an option as well, but he would certainly be viewed as the long-term heir apparent to Williams at left tackle.

The 49ers would probably like a bit of insurance and extra depth at left tackle, too. Williams played in just 10 games during an injury-plagued 2024 campaign and is set to enter his age-37 season.

Banks signed with Texas out of Summer Creek High School in Humble, Texas, and was rated as the nation’s No. 30 player overall, as the No. 3 offensive tackle and as the No. 7 player from Texas per 247Sports in the 2022 signing class.

The 6-foot-4, 320 pound offensive tackle has met those lofty expectations with flying colors as he quickly morphed into the anchor along the offensive line for Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers.

Per Pro Football Focus, Banks registered an overall offensive grade of 86.0 during the 2024 season, which was tops among Texas’ offensive starters. Banks earned an 89.8 pass blocking grade and an 81.0 run blocking grade.

According to The 33rd Team’s mock, Banks would be the second offensive tackle to come off the board. Ohio State offensive tackle Josh Simmons is forecasted to go one pick earlier to the Chicago Bears at No. 10.

The 33rd Team’s current projected top five selections are Miami quarterback Cam Ward No. 1 to Tennessee, Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter No. 2 to Cleveland, Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders No. 3 to the New York Giants, Penn State linebacker Abdul Carter No. 4 to New England and Michigan cornerback Will Johnson No. 5 to Jacksonville.