49ers Rookie Dominick Puni Cracks NFL’s Top 100 After Stellar Debut Season

When the San Francisco 49ers selected Dominick Puni in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, his role wasn’t entirely clear. Would he be a tackle? A guard? A versatile depth piece?

Fast forward a year, and Puni has not only locked down a starting job—he’s emerged as one of the best young offensive linemen in the league.

Puni Makes PFF’s Top 101 List

Pro Football Focus just released its list of the top 101 players from the 2024 NFL season, and Puni snuck in at No. 100 overall—a rare feat for a rookie offensive lineman.

Given the right guard job in training camp due to injuries ahead of him, Puni quickly proved he was the team’s best option at the position. He became the highest-graded rookie offensive lineman by PFF and finished the season with an impressive 80.5 overall grade.

A Dominant Force in the Run Game

Puni’s biggest strength? Run blocking. His 81.5 run-blocking grade ranked among the best at his position, helping the 49ers maintain their physical, downhill rushing attack.

While he showed promise as a pass blocker, there were growing pains. He allowed 35 pressures and three sacks, but considering he was adjusting to a new position at the NFL level, his performance was more than encouraging.

From College Star to NFL Standout

Puni’s journey to the NFL spotlight has been anything but conventional. At Kansas, he shined at left guard before moving to left tackle, where he played even better. With the 49ers needing upgrades on the right side of their offensive line, he stepped in at right guard and didn’t look back—starting all 17 games in his rookie season.

What’s Next for Puni?

For San Francisco, hitting on a third-round pick like Puni is huge. He was thrown into the fire and not only held his own but thrived. Even better? His arrow is pointing straight up heading into 2025.

If Puni can continue to develop, especially in pass protection, he could go from an underrated draft steal to one of the league’s top interior linemen. The 49ers might have found a long-term building block in the trenches—and the best may still be yet to come.