A former Georgia star was named the biggest bust of the 2025 NFL season by the San Francisco 49ers.
A former Georgia star, Mykel Williams, is already being labeled the biggest bust of the 2025 NFL season, and the buzz is coming from none other than the San Francisco 49ers’ own fan base and analysts. The team spent its 11th overall pick on Williams during the NFL Draft with the hope that he would bolster their defensive front and become a long-term solution opposite Nick Bosa. Coming out of the University of Georgia, Williams was seen as a raw but high-ceiling edge rusher with elite size and tools. He had earned All-SEC honors, contributed to a national championship, and showed flashes of dominance in run support. Despite these accolades, however, his collegiate sack totals were underwhelming for a top-tier edge prospect, which raised questions even before the draft. The 49ers made a calculated gamble, betting on his physical upside and trusting their coaching staff to develop his pass-rushing skill set. Now, just months into his professional journey and before even taking a snap in the regular season, that gamble is being questioned.
Media outlets like Sports Illustrated and Bleacher Report have put Williams on early watchlists for potential first-round busts, citing his lack of production in college and the stiff competition he faces within the 49ers’ depth chart. Analysts like Gilberto Manzano have emphasized that while Williams has ideal traits, the lack of consistent pressure on quarterbacks at Georgia suggests a steep learning curve ahead in the NFL. Even with his size and athleticism, transitioning from potential to performance is a different beast in a league that demands immediate impact from top picks. The criticism has been exacerbated by San Francisco’s urgent need to bounce back from a disappointing 6-11 season in 2024. After making aggressive offseason moves to trim the roster and reshape the defense, they can’t afford to miss on high picks, especially when those picks are meant to step in and produce quickly.
The 49ers also signed Bryce Huff in free agency, and they retained Yetur Gross-Matos, adding to an already crowded edge room. That move alone signaled that Williams might not even be ready for starting reps in his rookie year. While it’s not uncommon for first-year edge defenders to take time to adjust, the weight of expectations in San Francisco—where previous first-round disappointments like Javon Kinlaw and Solomon Thomas still linger in memory—creates a volatile atmosphere. Fans and commentators are less patient when the draft capital is so high and the returns aren’t immediate. Moreover, the team’s financial structure adds another layer of urgency. With quarterback Brock Purdy receiving a sizable contract extension, cap space is tighter than ever. That reality limits how many mistakes the team can afford in roster construction. If Williams can’t deliver soon, he’ll not only be a disappointment on the field but also a drag on the team’s broader salary cap planning.
Injuries have not been a factor thus far, but even a minor camp setback could push him further behind on the depth chart. If he finds himself buried and playing rotational or special teams snaps, the narrative of a bust will only accelerate. Already, legendary 49ers wide receiver Jerry Rice has expressed public concern about the team’s over-reliance on rookies and youth, calling the 2025 squad a “big question mark.” That concern is compounded when you realize San Francisco went all-in on this draft class. They brought in eleven rookies, many of whom are expected to compete for significant roles, after parting ways with veterans like Deebo Samuel and Kyle Juszczyk. The message is clear: the 49ers are betting on the future, and if that future stalls at the gate, criticism will follow.
Despite the bleak projections, it’s still premature to declare Williams a bust. The reality is, NFL development is rarely linear. Rookies, especially those at physically demanding positions like defensive end, often take a season or more to adjust. Williams has shown excellent discipline against the run, and his athletic traits remain tantalizing. If he begins to flash disruption—even if it’s not in the sack column—he could start to reverse the narrative. He doesn’t have to be Nick Bosa to be valuable. If he can become a reliable edge-setter who pressures quarterbacks occasionally while staying healthy, he can carve out a meaningful role. It’s also important to acknowledge the 49ers’ coaching reputation. San Francisco has a track record of developing defensive talent, and their system tends to make edge defenders productive even if they weren’t high producers in college.
What Williams needs now is time, consistency, and the right opportunities. A strong preseason showing, a few key plays early in the regular season, and a demonstration of learning the system could go a long way. But time isn’t something rookies often get in San Francisco, especially when the team is expected to return to playoff contention immediately. The post-draft honeymoon is clearly over. Williams isn’t just competing with other rookies for playing time; he’s up against the ghosts of past 49ers draft failures, fan expectations, and a sports media cycle that loves to call out first-round disappointments. He may have entered the league with potential, but now he must show production—or risk becoming the latest cautionary tale of promise unmet.
Every move he makes in camp and early games will be scrutinized, every snap judged through the lens of his draft status. Fair or not, that’s the burden of being a top pick in a legacy franchise trying to reload on the fly. And for Williams, a quiet rookie year could be deadly to perception, even if his long-term future remains intact. The biggest risk isn’t that he fails outright—it’s that he fades into a rotational role without ever living up to his draft billing. That’s what turns first-rounders into busts in the minds of fans and analysts. So far, the signs aren’t encouraging. The front office continues to downplay his readiness. The media continues to question his impact. And the fans, starved for another Super Bowl run, are running out of patience. Still, it’s not too late.
Williams controls the next chapter. If he seizes his chances and adapts quickly, he could shift from disappointment to surprise contributor. But if the early doubts prove accurate, he might wear the label of “2025’s biggest bust” for years to come—especially in a city that never forgets a first-round flop.
