By re-signing fullback Kyle Juszczyk to a two-year contract, the San Francisco 49ers have altered the way we can look at their choices in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft.
Defensive linemen and offensive linemen have been the common positions projected to the 49ers in Round 1, but lingering there was Penn State’s electric tight end Tyler Warren.
It was easy to draw a line between Warren and the 49ers. He was a Swiss Army knife for the Nittany Lions last season, racking up 1,233 receiving yards, 218 rushing yards and 12 total touchdowns. Warren could easily work in alongside tight end George Kittle before replacing him as the team’s long-term No. 1 TE once Kittle, 31, hung up his pads. Once Juszczyk was released, the door opened wider for Warren to have an impact on offense as a rookie.
Now with Juszczyk back in the mix it becomes more difficult to see the line between Warren and the 49ers given some of their more immediate needs. Whoever the 49ers take in Round 1 has to be an impact player out of the gate. They have too many holes on their roster to use a premium draft pick on a player who may or may not see the field as a rookie.
While Warren would still ultimately be a really nice player for the 49ers, the need isn’t immediate enough to justify in Round 1. They still need cornerback help. The top safety in the draft should still be on the board at No. 11 when the 49ers are scheduled to pick. Offensive and defensive linemen will also be available in abundance at the No. 11 selection. All of those positions are areas the 49ers could use a starter, and addressing any of those needs in Round 1 maximizes their chances of finding a quality starter.
Perhaps San Francisco is infatuated with Warren and they make him their choice anyway if he falls to them at No. 11. However, the re-signing of Juszczyk makes it difficult to understand exactly how Warren fits for them in 2025.
