The San Francisco 49ers have leaned heavily on three defensive starters this season, and their importance to the team is reflected in the player comparisons attached to three projected first-round picks in the 2027 NFL draft.

In his latest first-round mock draft for FOX Sports, NFL draft analyst Rob Rang compared Georgia linebacker Chris Cole to Fred Warner, Alabama defensive lineman Devan Thompkins to Keion White and Georgia safety KJ Bolden to Malik Mustapha.

Cole is projected to go No. 8 overall to the New Orleans Saints. The comparison to Warner is particularly notable given how much the 49ers linebacker has meant to their defense. Warner leads San Francisco with 72 combined tackles through seven games and has forced four fumbles, also a team high.

Thompkins is projected to go No. 20 to the Dallas Cowboys. Rang compared the Alabama pass rusher to White, who has become an important part of San Francisco's defensive front. White has started six of seven games and recorded 13 tackles, 3.5 sacks, four tackles for loss and five quarterback hits.

Bolden rounds out the group, going No. 32 to the Buffalo Bills. The Georgia safety drew a comparison to Mustapha, who has started three games and appeared in all seven. He has 28 tackles, three passes defended and a fumble recovery.

The 49ers, meanwhile, are projected to draft Utah offensive tackle Zereoue Williams in the first round as the heir to Trent Williams' role on the offensive line.