San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman CJ West is poised for a significant leap in his second professional season. Despite a commendable debut year as a fourth-round draft pick, where he consistently featured on the defensive line and showed clear development, West remains unsatisfied. His focus is squarely on enhancing his skills to become a more dominant force, particularly in pass rushing and run defense, and to play a pivotal role in the team's defensive strategy. This analysis delves into West's determination, his underlying rookie performance metrics, and the promising outlook for his future contributions.
In 2025, West emerged as a reliable presence in the 49ers' defensive front, especially as the team leaned into its younger talent. The defensive unit, particularly against the run, faced challenges after Mykel Williams' season-ending injury. However, West, alongside Alfred Collins, demonstrated considerable potential as interior linemen capable of occupying space and withstanding double-team blocks. This early aptitude suggested West was a viable long-term solution to a recurring issue for the 49ers. Yet, his personal assessment of his first year in the league is not one of contentment; instead, it is marked by an eagerness for substantial improvement.
West recently shared his ambitious goals for the upcoming season, emphasizing the need for a career-defining jump in his performance. He articulated a desire to elevate his game, aiming for greater dominance in pass rush scenarios, further strengthening his run defense, and impacting opposing quarterbacks in diverse ways. His vision extends to creating opportunities for teammates like Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams to secure sacks, and freeing up Alfred Collins, thereby fundamentally altering the dynamics of their defensive scheme and benefiting the team as a whole.
While traditional statistics might not fully capture the extent of his rookie impact, West has valid reasons to believe in his capacity to become a leading interior defender. His regular season concluded with a single sack, with an additional one recorded during the 49ers' playoff exit. Nevertheless, a closer examination of his pass rush efficiency reveals a more impressive picture. Among rookie interior defensive linemen with a minimum of 50 pass rush snaps in 2025, West ranked sixth in pass rush win rate, according to Pro Football Focus. His 8.6% win rate, while not extraordinary, was marginally below that of the fifth overall pick, Mason Graham (9.0%). Furthermore, in true pass set situations, West's win rate of 13.6% surpassed Graham's 11.5%, albeit with fewer true pass set snaps, highlighting his potential in these critical moments.
These figures underscore West's inherent pass-rushing capabilities. His ability to generate significant knockback power stems from a natural leverage advantage, often a characteristic of slightly smaller defensive linemen, which he skillfully combines with effective hand usage. In run defense, his contributions were more immediately apparent. West and Collins consistently showcased their proficiency in closing run lanes, to the extent that their absence from the field during running downs often proved detrimental to the 49ers in the latter half of the season and playoffs.
It may be premature to label West a three-down player at this stage. However, the consistent and high level of play he demonstrated as a run defender in his rookie year suggests that greater success in this area is a natural progression as he assumes a more central role in the defensive line rotation. For his pass-rushing game, the path to dominance might be more intricate. Nevertheless, after a rookie season where his raw statistics belied his moments of exceptional performance, there is considerable optimism that West will make substantial strides in his second year. Should he maintain his current developmental trajectory, his statistics in 2026 are expected to be considerably more impressive.
