The San Francisco 49ers will be drafting No. 11 overall next Thursday night in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft.
Before the festivities get underway, Sports Illustrated’s Matt Verderame took a look at the best picks ever at each slot in the NFL draft. As San Francisco fans know from the franchise’s own history, Hall of Fame talents can be found with pick No. 11.
One of the 49ers‘ all-time greats was chosen with pick No. 11. Former San Francisco linebacker and recent Hall of Fame inductee Patrick Willis was drafted at No. 11 in the 2007 NFL draft.
Willis started in all 112 games he played, amassing 1,225 tackles, 20.5 sacks, eight interceptions (two of which were returned for touchdowns), 16 forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries and 53 passes defensed. The Ole Miss alum was a seven-time Pro Bowl selection.
But, Willis wasn’t SI’s choice as the best pick at No. 11 in NFL history. That distinction belongs to former Houston Texan and Arizona Cardinal J.J. Watt.
For the better part of a decade, Watt was the best defensive player on earth. Playing the bulk of his 12-year career with the Texans, Watt was a three-time Defensive Player of the Year, a five-time first-team All-Pro and registered 114.5 sacks before walking away after his age-33 season with the Arizona Cardinals. Undoubtedly, he’ll waltz into Canton on the first ballot when eligible. – Verderame, Sports Illustrated.
Willis was one of SI’s honorable mention choices as were Dallas Cowboys greats Michael Irvin and DeMarcus Ware and Pittsburgh Steelers legend Ben Roethlisberger.
Irvin was a three-time Super Bowl champion with the Cowboys, Roethlisberger a two-time Super Bowl champion with the Steelers and Ware was a Super Bowl champion with the Denver Broncos to close his career.
San Francisco’s success at pick No. 11 and some of these other Hall of Famers and world champions indicate what the 49ers could find with their first-round choice. Maybe another Willis or Irvin or Ware is waiting for the franchise next week.
This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: NFL draft: Best players ever picked at 49ers place (No. 11 overall)
The San Francisco 49ers will be drafting No. 11 overall next Thursday night in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft.
Before the festivities get underway, Sports Illustrated’s Matt Verderame took a look at the best picks ever at each slot in the NFL draft. As San Francisco fans know from the franchise’s own history, Hall of Fame talents can be found with pick No. 11.
One of the 49ers‘ all-time greats was chosen with pick No. 11. Former San Francisco linebacker and recent Hall of Fame inductee Patrick Willis was drafted at No. 11 in the 2007 NFL draft.
Willis started in all 112 games he played, amassing 1,225 tackles, 20.5 sacks, eight interceptions (two of which were returned for touchdowns), 16 forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries and 53 passes defensed. The Ole Miss alum was a seven-time Pro Bowl selection.
But, Willis wasn’t SI’s choice as the best pick at No. 11 in NFL history. That distinction belongs to former Houston Texan and Arizona Cardinal J.J. Watt.
For the better part of a decade, Watt was the best defensive player on earth. Playing the bulk of his 12-year career with the Texans, Watt was a three-time Defensive Player of the Year, a five-time first-team All-Pro and registered 114.5 sacks before walking away after his age-33 season with the Arizona Cardinals. Undoubtedly, he’ll waltz into Canton on the first ballot when eligible. – Verderame, Sports Illustrated.
Willis was one of SI’s honorable mention choices as were Dallas Cowboys greats Michael Irvin and DeMarcus Ware and Pittsburgh Steelers legend Ben Roethlisberger.
Irvin was a three-time Super Bowl champion with the Cowboys, Roethlisberger a two-time Super Bowl champion with the Steelers and Ware was a Super Bowl champion with the Denver Broncos to close his career.
San Francisco’s success at pick No. 11 and some of these other Hall of Famers and world champions indicate what the 49ers could find with their first-round choice. Maybe another Willis or Irvin or Ware is waiting for the franchise next week.
This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: NFL draft: Best players ever picked at 49ers place (No. 11 overall)
