San Francisco’s Next Big Move: 49ers Target Top D-Linemen and a Rising Linebacker Star at the Combine
News surrounding the San Francisco 49ers’ draft meetings at the NFL Scouting Combine took a backseat on Wednesday as general manager John Lynch spoke to reporters, addressing key offseason topics, including Brock Purdy, Deebo Samuel, and more.
Still, the team reportedly met with several draft prospects in Indianapolis. You can find a running tally within our 49ers 2025 Pre-Draft Tracker.
Several defensive linemen spoke with reporters on Wednesday, revealing that some had already met with the 49ers—either formally or informally. Each team is allowed up to 45 formal interviews with prospects but can hold unlimited informal discussions.
The 49ers reportedly met with the following defensive linemen:
- DT Walter Nolen, Ole Miss
- DE James Pearce Jr., Tennessee
- DE Nic Scourton, Texas A&M
- DT Shemar Turner, Texas A&M
- DT CJ West, Indiana
San Francisco holds the No. 11 overall pick in the upcoming draft, and many expect the team to prioritize the trenches by selecting an offensive or defensive lineman. However, that’s not the only need the 49ers have this offseason.
Veteran linebacker Dre Greenlaw is set to become a free agent, and Lynch acknowledged the 49ers would like him back but stated there’s a real possibility he will test the open market.
“Dre should go out and see what’s out there, and then we know where we have to be,” Lynch said.
That makes it especially noteworthy that the 49ers also met with Oklahoma State linebacker Nick Martin at the Combine, with more linebacker meetings likely to follow.
Martin’s 2024 season was cut short due to a knee injury, but in 2023, he recorded 140 tackles—the most by an Oklahoma State player in 40 years and the most in the Big 12 since 2018—along with six sacks and two interceptions.
