During his visit, Watkins got a glimpse of what it takes to succeed as a rookie wideout in head coach Kyle Shanahan's system.
RELATED
"It's going to be tough," Watkins told reporters shortly after being drafted on Saturday. "It's going to be hard to be able to work my way up onto the field as a rookie. But I think the thing that makes San Francisco very special is that they really care about football there, and they told me that if you care about football, and you love football, then you're going to fit in great here."
Watkins sees similarities between what was asked of him at Ole Miss and what will be expected with the 49ers, especially when it comes to wide receivers being physical in the blocking game.
"They like to get down and dirty a little bit with their receivers, whether we're blocking defensive ends or cracking linebackers," Watkins said of his time at Ole Miss. "So there's a lot of similarity between how we did it at Ole Miss and how Coach Shanahan runs his system."
Position versatility is another strength for Watkins. He said he doesn't favor a specific receiver spot and embraces any matchup challenge, whether working out of the slot or lining up outside. With Deebo Samuel no longer on the roster and Brandon Aiyuk recovering from an injury, Watkins recognizes an opportunity to make an impact early.
When asked about the challenges of transitioning from college to the NFL, Watkins pointed to mastering the playbook as the biggest hurdle.
"I guess the playbook," Watkins admitted, "because having a traditional-style NFL offense compared to what we had at Ole Miss is a lot different because having time in and out between plays and things like that, compared to being at Ole Miss to where it's so fast and it's rapid, it's rapid, it's rapid. And I think that'll be the biggest adjustment for me."
Related News
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
49ers' Kyle Shanahan excited about Jordan James heading into 2026 season
Jordan James saw limited action for the San Francisco 49ers during the 2025 season, playing just three offensive snaps—all coming in Week 16 against the Indianapolis Colts. He added 14 offensive snaps in the playoff loss to the Seattle Seahawks, including his first career... -
49ers veteran defender praises teammate's strong rookie season
Upton Stout emerged as one of the top performers from the San Francisco 49ers' 2025 rookie class. The third-round pick finished the season as the team's highest-graded cornerback, according to Pro Football Focus. Among 49ers rookies who logged significant playing time, Stout... -
49ers' Kyle Juszczyk says nearby electrical substation has been a 'talking point for years'
Discussion surrounding the San Francisco 49ers' recent injury history—and whether a nearby electrical substation could be a contributing factor—doesn't appear to be going away anytime soon. The 49ers endured another injury-plagued season in 2025, losing key stars such as... -
49ers denied request to interview Falcons secondary coach
The San Francisco 49ers were denied permission to interview Atlanta Falcons secondary coach Justin Hood, according to NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero. The Falcons blocked San Francisco's request to speak with Hood, keeping him in place on their defensive staff. Pelissero did...