A late-blooming small-college transfer who became Kansas's highest draft pick in over a decade and a steady NFL starter.
Dominick Puni's path to the NFL ran through Division II Central Missouri before he broke out at Kansas, and the 49ers have reaped the benefits since taking him in the third round. He has started every game he's played since entering the league, developing into one of San Francisco's steadier offensive linemen.
Path to the league
Puni transferred to Kansas after four seasons at Central Missouri, earning First Team All-Big 12 honors from both the AP and coaches in 2023 after an honorable mention nod in 2022. He didn't allow a sack across 745 snaps in his final college season, and the 49ers traded up to select him with the 86th overall pick in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, making him Kansas's highest draft pick since Aqib Talib went in the first round in 2008.
Career highlights
Puni started all 17 games as a rookie in 2024 at right guard, quickly establishing himself as a foundational piece of San Francisco's offensive line and drawing Pro Bowl consideration entering his second season.
2025 season recap
Puni continued as a full-time starter for San Francisco in 2025, earning a 70.2 overall PFF grade that ranked 25th among qualified guards as he worked to build on a strong rookie campaign.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Dominick Puni
- Pro Football Reference: Dominick Puni
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Guard
- Group
- offense
- College
- Kansas
- Hometown
- Saint Charles, MO, USA
- Age
- 26
- Status
- active
