SANTA CLARA >> You weren’t the only one cringing at the 49ers’ depth chart and its many holes. Imagine how coach Kyle Shanahan felt the past month. Now consider how thankful he is for an 11-man draft class that is his largest in his nine years, and it’s replete with versatility, size, and speed.

“You come into work, you look at your board, and there are a lot of empty spots,” Shanahan recalled of his torment the past month or two.

It wasn’t until Friday night, once the 49ers started restocking defenders, that Shanahan “exhaled” for the first time since March’s roster purge, when eight full-fledged starters and 19 players signed elsewhere, not to mention safety Malik Mustapha’s discrete recovery from ACL surgery.

“It definitely was a good feeling to add some guys here, because we lost a number — more than we ever have before,” Shanahan said Friday night.

Unlike the 2017 roster turnover, which Shanahan and general manager John Lynch immediately countered with free agent additions and a 10-man draft class, this year’s financial hurdles made them bypass starters in free agency and rely on the draft.

“This was a huge weekend for our organization,” Lynch said. “We love our core of guys, but there’s a lot of opportunity on this roster right now, and it’s also a lot of necessity to infuse some youth, some young players, and some quality young players.”

The new recruits >> Their first five picks addressed their once-mighty defense’s appalling deficiencies, headlined by No. 11 overall pick Mykel Williams, a versatile defensive end and ideally Nick Bosa’s long-sought perfect match.

Friday’s second round brought the heaviest player ever drafted by this regime: 332-pound nose tackle Alfred Collins. The defense-only edict flowed through Round 3 (linebacker Nick Martin, nickel back Upton Stout) and spilled into Saturday’s fourth round (defensive tackle C.J. West).

That made five defensive players in five picks. The only other time that happened in 49ers history, their 1981 team went on to claim the franchise’s first Super Bowl. “We can only pray this one is as good,” Lynch said.

For now, they are merely names of first-year associates, each looking to make partner and millions. They fill needs but, as Lynch made sure to declare, the 49ers are a meritocracy. As empty as the roster seemed from March’s exodus, the new kids on the block still must beat out veterans who’ve been in their shoes, who know they’re not on any ordinary last-place team.

Loftiest comparison >> Dre Greenlaw’s departure for Denver’s dollars stung the 49ers last month, despite his massive injury risk. Lynch wasted no time this draft comparing Martin to a healthy Greenlaw: “Swarms to the football and you feel him on the field. Not the biggest guy but has long arms that kind of mimics Dre in a lot of ways.”

Both are 5-foot-11½, both have arms about 32 inches long, both ran the 40 in 4.53 seconds, and both like to punish ball carriers. Martin paid homage to the “dynamic duo” of Greenlaw and Fred Warner, then described his own style as “relentless, the way I always go for the kill shot, whether that’s maximum effort or punishing a person with the ball, just figuring out ways to just change the tone of the game.”

Shanahan cautioned against comparing a potential Martin-Warner pairing with how Greenlaw fit.

“Dre is one of the best run-and-hit linebackers that I’ve ever been around and probably the best in the league at it,” Shanahan said. “And when we looked at the college tape, we felt (Martin) was the guy who was the best in college at that way.”

What about the offense? >> The offense’s biggest development this weekend was George Kittle showing up Friday for the team’s voluntary offseason workouts after missing Tuesday’s initial session.

“It was cool,” Shanahan said of Kittle’s arrival. “I got to hang out with him for a little bit and he worked out with the team.”

Kittle still awaits an extension to a contract that expires after this season.

Back-to-back picks Saturday brought in Ole Miss wide receiver Jordan Watkins, a 4.37-second speedster in the 40-yard dash, and Oregon running back Jordan James, a touchdown-seeking fit for their zone scheme.

This season’s mantra >> Cornerback Upton Stout’s euphoric phone call with the 49ers’ draft room organically created this season’s catchphrase: “Let’s do it!”

Stout emphatically repeated that line 13 times as he was passed from Lynch to Shanahan to owner Jed York, each of whom Stout called “coach” on the 88-second call, which was posted on the 49ers’ social media channels.

Stout to Shanahan: “I’m telling you, let’s do it, let’s do it, coach. You don’t know what you just got, coach. You just got a dog.”

Shanahan responded: “We know that, man. All we have to do is see the tape. We know we’ve got a dog. … Dude, that fires me up.”

After York extended his congratulations, Stout insisted the 49ers got the draft’s “best DB.” York relayed how fired up everyone in the John McVay Draft Room was, and that prompted Lynch to have those present holler: “Let’s do it!”

The call concluded with York playfully chiming in: “Let’s do it, man.” Stout: “Let’s do it.” York got the final words: “Let’s do it.”

Best quote >> “My bread and butter is at the 1-technique. That’s where I just abuse centers, punch ’em in the face, be as violent as possible, and just cause havoc down there in the middle,” said West, a Chicago native who transferred to Indiana a year ago after four years at Kent State.

Best memento >> Like several other 49ers draft picks, West had a 49ers ballcap at the ready, courtesy of his agent. How many other hats were available?

“This is the only one I’m rocking. All the others are in the garbage somewhere,” West said.

Happiest fan >> Father’s Day came early for Calvin Sigle.

“This is my dad’s team, so I always dreamed of this,” said safety Marques Sigle, a fifth-round pick and Omaha, Nebraska native.

As for why his dad has been a member of the 49ers Faithful, “I’ll have to get with him and have that discussion after this night, so I’ll have that for you soon.”

Fastest men >> Both Sigle and Watkins were timed at 4.37 seconds in the scouting combine’s 40-yard dash, although Lynch stated (or mispoke) that Sigle had “blazing fast” 4.2-second speed.

The next-fastest in this draft class is Stout (4.44 seconds). Faster than those were 2024 fourth-rounders Isaac Guerendo (4.33) and Jacob Cowing (4.38), not to mention 2022 third-round bust Danny Gray (4.33).

NFC West foes >> The reigning division champion Los Angeles Rams again traded out of the first round for the eighth time in nine years. They selected Oregon tight end Terrance Ferguson in the second round as their top choice.

The Arizona Cardinals also used their first five picks on strictly defensive players, starting with defensive tackle Walter Nolen, cornerback Will Johnson and defensive end Jordan Burch.

Interior offensive lineman Grey Zabel was the Seattle Seahawks’ pick at No. 18 overall, but their 11-man draft class headliner is quarterback Jalen Milroe (third round).

Injury watch >> The 49ers evidently are not too concerned with past injuries to their top few picks. In fact, Willliams’ ability to play through a high ankle sprain (he missed two games after the opener) displayed a toughness the 49ers heralded.

“I just wanted to be out there with my guys,” Williams said. “So, I was playing through a lot of pain and right now I’m 100% healthy. I’ve been working out and moving on it like normal.”

Missing the most time last season was Martin, who did not require surgery for a torn medial collateral ligament that cost him his final seven games.

“I’m feeling great right now and ready to get after it,” Martin said. “I’m ready to prove my name and show the world what I’m all about.”

More mysterious is Collins, whose left leg was in an orthopedic boot as he watched Texas’ pro day.

“He had a couple of things that he worked through, but he played through it and he had a really good senior year,” Lynch said.