This Is the Player I Want the 49ers to Take with the 11th Pick
When the San Francisco 49ers are on the clock with the 11th overall pick this Thursday, there’s one player I’m hoping they grab—Oregon Ducks defensive lineman Derrick Harmon.
In the 2025 Rose Bowl quarterfinals in Pasadena, California, Harmon made a big impression in the second half against Ohio State, showcasing the kind of disruptive talent that could make an immediate impact at the next level.
The 49ers have a few positions to consider with their first-round pick, but defensive tackle stands out as the most urgent need. It’s a spot where they’re thin, and picking a top-tier prospect like Harmon would be the perfect scenario: filling a key gap with a high-upside player.
Pro Football Network’s latest mock draft agrees. They project the 49ers selecting Harmon at No. 11—and it’s a move that makes a lot of sense. Harmon is a force on the line and one of the two DTs I believe the 49ers should seriously consider.
“A lot of teams in the late teens and early 20s would love to get Derrick Harmon. I doubt he falls that far. Prospects with both a high floor and a high ceiling don’t last long. The 49ers desperately need a player like him.
San Francisco currently lacks proven talent on the interior defensive line. Harmon can be the new anchor they build around. Standing at 6’4 1/2” and 313 pounds with over 34-inch arms, he brings power to dominate against the run and the relentless motor of an elite pass-rusher.”
That breakdown captures exactly why Harmon fits so well in San Francisco. The team veered away from their usual mold when they signed Javon Hargrave, but drafting Harmon would bring them back to their identity—freakishly strong, physical players in the trenches.
Harmon is the type of defender who can impact both the run and the pass game. If the 49ers are serious about addressing the defensive interior, Harmon should be the name they call when pick No. 11 comes up.
