When an offensive lineman becomes a regular starter in the NFL, it is usually because coaches trust him to do a job that rarely gets the same attention as touchdowns or interceptions. Dominick Puni is one of those players. The San Francisco 49ers selected Puni in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, and he quickly moved from an intriguing college prospect to an important part of the team’s offensive line.
Puni’s story is particularly interesting because his route to the NFL was not completely conventional. He began his college career at Central Missouri before transferring to Kansas, where he established himself against FBS competition. After entering the league, he started all 17 games as a rookie and followed that with another 17 starts in 2025.
But Puni’s development has not been perfectly linear. His 2025 performance exposed areas of his technique that needed improvement, and recent reporting indicates that he worked closely with veteran offensive line coach Chris Foerster to address those weaknesses.
That makes 2026 an especially important season: Puni has already shown he can handle an NFL workload, but his next step is proving he can turn that experience into consistently high-level play.
Who Is Dominick Puni?
Dominick Puni is an American football offensive lineman for the San Francisco 49ers. He wears No. 77 and is listed at 6-foot-5 and 313 pounds on the team’s official roster. He was born on February 24, 2000, in St. Charles, Missouri, and attended Francis Howell Central High School.
His football background includes an unusual progression through college football.
Puni played at:
- Central Missouri from 2018 through 2021
- Kansas from 2022 through 2023
- San Francisco beginning in 2024
He appeared in 42 college games and made 38 starts across the two programs. During his final season at Kansas, he started 12 games and earned first-team All-Big 12 recognition.
That progression matters because Puni did not arrive in the NFL with the same major-program pedigree as some highly drafted offensive linemen. He had to demonstrate that his success at Kansas could translate to professional football.
Dominick Puni’s College Career
Puni’s development at Central Missouri gave him an early foundation, but his move to Kansas significantly increased the level of competition he faced.
At Kansas, he became a versatile offensive lineman and played primarily at tackle. His experience across positions helped demonstrate that he could understand different responsibilities within an offensive line.
His 2023 season was particularly important.
Puni earned first-team All-Big 12 honors after starting 12 games. His performance helped move him from a less obvious NFL prospect into a player who attracted significant draft attention.
One of the most interesting aspects of his college career was the way he adapted to the jump from Division II football to the Big 12.
That transition is not simply about facing faster defenders. It requires adjusting to:
- Faster pass rushers
- More complex defensive fronts
- Higher-level athleticism
- Quicker decision-making
- Greater consistency from snap to snap
Puni managed that transition well enough to become an NFL draft selection.
When Did the 49ers Draft Dominick Puni?
The San Francisco 49ers selected Dominick Puni with the 86th overall pick in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
For San Francisco, the selection addressed an important need on the offensive line.
Puni entered the organization with positional flexibility and the physical traits required to compete for a starting role. The 49ers’ official introduction highlighted his versatility, while his college experience had included work at tackle, guard and center.
That flexibility became valuable quickly.
Rather than spending years waiting for an opportunity, Puni established himself as a starter during his rookie season.
Dominick Puni’s Rookie Season
Puni’s first NFL season was one of the strongest parts of his young career.
He started all 17 regular-season games for San Francisco in 2024.
That is significant for any rookie offensive lineman.
The position demands communication, physical strength, technique and mental discipline. A young player must understand defensive fronts while also coordinating with the center and tackle next to him.
Puni’s rookie season earned him recognition as a member of the PFWA All-Rookie Team, and he finished highly enough in Pro Football Focus’ evaluations to be included among the top 101 players of the 2024 season.
What Made His Rookie Year Stand Out?
Puni’s physical style was one of the reasons he attracted attention.
He showed an ability to generate movement in the run game while maintaining enough mobility to operate within the 49ers’ offensive concepts.
His rookie success also demonstrated something important about his development:
He was not simply surviving at the NFL level; he was becoming a dependable starter.
That distinction matters when evaluating young offensive linemen.
What Happened to Dominick Puni in 2025?
Puni’s second season was more complicated.
Although he remained a full-time starter, his overall performance declined compared with his impressive rookie campaign. PFF gave him a 70.2 overall grade for 2025, ranking him 25th among 81 qualifying guards. His run-blocking grade was 69.1, while his pass-blocking grade was 63.8.
He played 1,119 offensive snaps and allowed 30 pressures, including one sack and one hit, according to PFF’s data.
The numbers tell an important story.
Puni was not suddenly a bad player. He remained a heavily used starter and ranked reasonably well among NFL guards. But expectations had changed after his strong rookie season.
The question was no longer whether he belonged in the NFL.
It became whether he could become consistently excellent.
The Technique Issue Behind His 2025 Struggles
Recent reporting provides an important piece of context for Puni’s development.
The San Francisco Chronicle reported that Puni became concerned during 2025 that he might already have reached his ceiling. His coaches had identified technical flaws earlier, but he became more receptive to those lessons after experiencing the consequences during games.
That is an interesting lesson about offensive line development.
Physical talent can get a player into the NFL, but technique determines how consistently that talent works against experienced defenders.
Puni reportedly worked with offensive line coach Chris Foerster to refine his technique. The improvement became more visible later in the season.
This may be one of the most important factors to watch in 2026.
Dominick Puni’s Playing Style
Puni’s game is built around physicality, balance and movement.
As a guard, he needs to perform several jobs that can look completely different from one play to another.
He may need to:
- Drive a defensive lineman backward
- Pull across the formation
- Reach a moving defender
- Protect the quarterback against an interior rush
- Help the center against a powerful defensive tackle
- Adjust to blitzes
- Maintain his position while operating in space
His run blocking has generally been considered one of his stronger areas.
PFF’s 2025 numbers support that interpretation, with his run-blocking grade of 69.1 ranking 22nd among qualifying guards compared with his 33rd-ranked pass-blocking grade.
That difference gives us a useful way to understand his current profile.
Run Blocking
Puni’s size and strength can be particularly valuable in the running game.
He is capable of creating movement rather than simply absorbing contact.
This fits naturally with an offense that wants its offensive linemen to create running lanes and move defenders rather than merely hold their positions.
Pass Protection
Pass protection is where continued refinement matters most.
Interior pass rushers can attack guards with:
- Speed
- Power
- Stunts
- Hand moves
- Counters
- Quick changes of direction
A technically small mistake can therefore turn into pressure very quickly.
For Puni, improving his consistency in this area could significantly change how he is viewed around the league.
How Durable Has Dominick Puni Been?
One of the easiest things to overlook when evaluating an offensive lineman is availability.
Puni started all 17 games as a rookie and all 17 games in 2025, giving him 34 regular-season starts across his first two NFL seasons.
That consistency is valuable for the 49ers.
Offensive line chemistry develops through repetition. Guards need to communicate constantly with centers and tackles, and those relationships can become more effective when the same players work together over an extended period.
Puni’s ability to remain in the lineup has therefore been an important part of his early career.
Why 2026 Could Be a Breakout Season
There is a strong argument that Puni’s 2026 season could be his most important yet.
He already has:
- Two seasons of NFL starting experience
- 34 regular-season starts
- Experience against a wide variety of defensive fronts
- Knowledge of San Francisco’s offensive system
- A better understanding of his technical weaknesses
- Coaching focused on correcting those weaknesses
NFL.com’s Bucky Brooks has included Puni on an offensive all-breakout team for 2026, highlighting him as a player capable of taking a significant step forward.
That projection does not mean a Pro Bowl season is guaranteed.
Instead, it reflects a reasonable development path: Puni has already demonstrated a high enough baseline, and now his technique and consistency could determine how far he climbs.
What Should Fans Watch for in 2026?
The easiest mistake is to judge Puni only by whether he allows sacks.
For an offensive guard, there are several more revealing indicators.
1. Pass-Rush Consistency
Watch how he handles interior rushers who use counters rather than relying on a single move.
2. Communication
Pay attention to how he reacts when the defense changes fronts or sends pressure.
3. Second-Level Blocking
His ability to reach linebackers and operate in space can be particularly valuable in a movement-oriented rushing attack.
4. Penalties
Consistency includes knowing when to finish a block without crossing the line into a penalty.
5. Performance Against Elite Defensive Lines
A player’s development becomes much easier to evaluate when he faces some of the league’s best interior defenders.
A Less Obvious Insight: Experience Can Change How Puni Plays
Offensive line development is often less visible than development at skill positions.
A wide receiver can show obvious improvement through catches and explosive plays. A guard’s improvement may appear in something much smaller: better hand placement, cleaner footwork or faster recognition of a stunt.
For Puni, that means his 2026 improvement may not necessarily produce spectacular statistics.
Instead, the biggest change could be fewer technically compromised reps.
That is the type of improvement that can turn a good guard into a dependable long-term starter.
Another Unique Insight: His College Journey Matters
Puni’s path from Central Missouri to Kansas is more than an interesting biographical detail.
It demonstrates that his development has already depended on successfully adapting to a higher level of competition.
He has effectively completed multiple transitions:
Division II → Big 12 → NFL
Each step required him to adjust to faster and more technically advanced opponents.
That history makes his ability to respond to coaching particularly relevant. He has already shown that he can improve when the level of competition increases.
Dominick Puni’s Contract and Future With San Francisco
Puni’s development also has implications for the 49ers beyond individual performance.
Young starting offensive linemen become particularly valuable when they establish themselves before reaching the later stages of their careers.
A strong 2026 season could therefore increase Puni’s long-term value to San Francisco.
Recent coverage has suggested that Puni could position himself for a significant contract if he continues improving, although any future deal will depend on performance, negotiations and the team’s salary-cap priorities.
For now, the most important thing is not contract speculation.
It is whether Puni can turn his physical ability and starting experience into consistently high-level technique.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who does Dominick Puni play for?
Dominick Puni plays offensive line for the San Francisco 49ers and wears No. 77. He was selected by San Francisco in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
What position does Dominick Puni play?
Puni primarily plays guard for the 49ers. His college career also included experience at tackle and center, giving him useful positional versatility.
Where did Dominick Puni go to college?
Puni attended Central Missouri before transferring to the University of Kansas. He played six college seasons across the two programs and earned first-team All-Big 12 honors in 2023.
How many games has Dominick Puni started in the NFL?
Through the 2025 regular season, Puni had started all 34 games he played for San Francisco. He started all 17 games in both 2024 and 2025.
Is Dominick Puni expected to improve in 2026?
There are legitimate reasons for optimism. Puni has two full seasons of starting experience and has reportedly worked on specific technical issues identified during 2025. NFL analysts have also identified him as a potential breakout candidate for 2026.
What is Dominick Puni’s biggest strength?
His physical run blocking is one of his notable strengths. His 2025 PFF run-blocking grade ranked higher than his pass-blocking grade, suggesting that continued improvement in pass protection could be especially important to his development.
Conclusion
Dominick Puni’s NFL story is still being written, but the first two seasons have already provided a useful picture of his potential.
He went from a relatively unconventional college path to becoming a third-round NFL selection and then immediately earned a starting role with the 49ers. His rookie season showed how quickly he could adapt, while his second season exposed technical areas that needed refinement.
That combination makes 2026 fascinating.
Puni does not need to prove that he belongs in the NFL anymore. The bigger challenge is proving that he can become one of the league’s more dependable interior offensive linemen.
If his technical improvements continue, his physical tools, durability and experience could give San Francisco a valuable long-term piece on the offensive line.
