The San Fransisco 49ers selected former Indiana defensive tackle CJ West in Round 4 with pick No. 113 in the 2025 NFL Draft.
The 6-foot-2, 317-pound started his career at Kent State making 39 starts and in was named third-team All-Mid-American Conference in 2023. West played his senior season at Indiana earningBig Ten honorable mention honors in his lone season as a Hoosier. He finished the season with 42 total tackles, one pass defended, two sacks, and one forced fumble.
Here’s what The Athletic’s Dane Brugler said about the Indiana defensive tackle:
“A one-year starter at Indiana, West was an interchangeable defensive tackle in defensive coordinator Bryant Haines’ scheme, lining up everywhere from the nose to the 2i-/three-technique. A hooper growing up, he caught the football bug, moved to the defensive line as a high school junior and has steadily improved ever since — he had a career year in 2024 as the catalyst for Indiana’s top-ranked FBS run defense.
“The No. 1 criteria when scouting defensive linemen is to find the guys that hate to be blocked, and West falls into that category with his fast, strong hands and high energy level. He can win gaps with his quickness but has some tweener play traits, as he lacks the mass or length desired for the nose and his pass-rush process is underdeveloped when playing over the B-gap. Overall, West doesn’t have the size measurements to fit every scheme, and he needs to continue connecting the dots as a pass rusher, but his natural leverage, play violence and ascending instincts are of NFL quality. Similar in ways to Poona Ford, he has the goods to become a valuable part of a defensive line rotation.Martin had a serious knee injury in 2024, but it doesn’t seem to have hurt his draft stock.”
This years draft saw the 49ers stocked up with tons of defensive help, adding Georgia defensive end Mykel Williams in round one at pick No. 11, defensive tackle Alfred Collins, linebacker Nick Martin and cornerback Upton Stout.
CJ West was drafted in round 4 pick 113 in the 2025 draft class. He scored a 9.16 #RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 172 out of 2033 DT from 1987 to 2025. https://t.co/6jVfmHSoWT pic.twitter.com/okRB0R2dx2
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) April 26, 2025
Lance Zierlein's Scouting Report via NFL.com Fifth-year senior with three seasons as a full-time starter at Kent State and one at Indiana. West benefited from an extremely active, gaming front that created playmaking opportunities, but he also did the dirty work inside that scheme. He plays with adequate hand and foot quickness and is quick to diagnose the play. A lack of length and leverage at the point of attack might tie him to a one-gapping scheme as a pro. The sack totals are light, but he has enough athletic ability to compete as a rusher on single blocks. West has Day 3 value as a likely three-technique backup.
CJ West's combination of strength and movement skills could give him a bright future in the NFL. Overall, West has has intriguing traits to develop, he will be an instant rotational interior defensive lineman for Robert Saleh's defense and a potential starter down the road.
Kurtis Rourke, West teammate was also drafted by the 49ers in the seventh round with pick 227.