Two receivers impress at 49ers rookie minicamp

Two wide receivers stood out during Friday afternoon's rookie minicamp session — the only one open to the media — and neither was one of the San Francisco 49ers' drafted pass catchers, Jordan Watkins or Junior Bergen. One was undrafted free agent Isaiah Neyor, who stole the spotlight, with The Athletic's Matt Barrows calling him "the most gifted receiver" at the minicamp.

Neyor, who played college football at Wyoming, Texas, and most recently Nebraska, enjoyed his most productive season in 2021, recording 44 receptions for 878 yards and 12 touchdowns, per Sports Reference.

He missed the 2022 season after tearing his ACL and appeared in just one game in 2023 before transferring to Nebraska, where he played in 12 games (nine starts), totaling 34 catches for 455 yards and a team-high five receiving touchdowns.

Undrafted free agents can sign with any team. With several teams interested, why did Neyor choose the 49ers?

"I just talked with my agent, and we tried to look for the best spot, and this seemed to be a great fit," Neyor said. "I've known some of the coaches here, and it just seemed to be a great fit."

At 6-foot-4, Neyor stood out on the practice field among his new teammates. Watkins and Bergen both measure under six feet. And at 218 pounds, Neyor is the heaviest of the 49ers wideouts.

"He cuts a Randy Moss-like silhouette with a thin frame and long arms and legs," Barrows wrote in a feature for The Athletic. "His big stride gobbles up yardage and immediately forces cornerbacks to turn and run with him."

However, Barrows also notes that several of the rookies, including Neyor, had some trouble keeping up with the fast-paced drills led by receivers coach Leonard Hankerson. Still, the reporter emphasized that Neyor remained "the most visibly striking" receiver in the group, hinting that the 49ers may have found another gem among their undrafted free agents.

The second standout wasn't a rookie at all, but rather one of a handful of second-year players invited to practice with the group—Terique Owens, an undrafted free agent from last year.

Because Owens spent most of the 2024 season on the 49ers' practice squad, he was already familiar with Hankerson's physical expectations, and he used that experience to help set the tone for the newer players.

"Owens is firmly in the 'players to watch' category this offseason," Barrows wrote. "Though he's the son of Pro Football Hall of Fame receiver Terrell Owens, he got a late start with football, and the 49ers were betting on his upside when they signed him a year ago. He'll have the opportunity to prove himself this year."