The San Francisco 49ers selected South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori with the 43rd overall pick in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft, per sources, bolstering a depleted secondary. Finalized Friday in Green Bay, John Lynch’s choice targets a defensive revival after a 6-11 season. Kyle Shanahan’s squad aims for a playoff return, per Matt Maiocco.
San Francisco,Fr – April 25, 2025
Robert Saleh’s defense, 20th in points allowed (24.3 per game), lost Charvarius Ward and Talanoa Hufanga to free agency. Emmanwori, a 6-foot-3, 227-pound playmaker, notched 88 tackles, four interceptions, and two pick-sixes in 2024, per NFL.com. His 81.5 PFF coverage grade fits Saleh’s big nickel role, per Dane Brugler.
Emmanwori’s size and speed address the 49ers’ need for versatility against NFC West receivers like Puka Nacua. Facing just one safety, Malaki Starks, picked in round one, Emmanwori’s slide to day two offered value, per Chad Reuter. Deommodore Lenoir and Renardo Green gain a dynamic partner, per Charles Robinson.
The pick carries risks due to Emmanwori’s 2024 disciplinary issues, including a one-game suspension, per Jeremy Fowler. His $5 million, four-year rookie deal fits the 49ers’ $22 million cap, per OverTheCap, preserving funds for Brock Purdy’s $50-60 million extension, per Grant Cohn.
Lynch’s nine remaining picks, including pick 75, must target Trent Williams’s heir and Javon Hargrave’s replacement, per Matt Barrows. Emmanwori’s 2023 tape—six pass breakups—shows rawness, but his 2024 growth signals upside, per Pro Football Focus. Saleh’s leadership could harness his physicality, per Albert Breer.
Philadelphia’s trade of Dallas Goedert freed cap for youth, per Alex Ballentine, but the 49ers prioritize defense. Emmanwori’s fit echoes past steals like Talanoa Hufanga, per Brayden Haena. His 40-inch vertical and 4.5-second 40-yard dash, per Lorenzo J. Reyna, add athleticism to the backend.
Shanahan’s draft successes—Kittle, Purdy—inspire confidence. Emmanwori’s tackling prowess, with 15 stops in 2024, bolsters run support, per NFL.com. Puka Nacua’s cap warning about Purdy underscores the need for cost-effective talent, per ClutchPoints.
This pick aims to rebuild 2019’s defensive sting. If Emmanwori adapts, the 49ers’ secondary could thwart passing attacks, fueling Purdy’s 2025 push alongside Nick Bosa and Fred Warner. A slow adjustment risks exposing the backend, testing Saleh’s ability to mold the top-20 talent in a fierce NFC West.
