ClutchPoints
Coming off a 6-11 finish in 2024, changes to the San Francisco 49ers’ roster were inevitable in the 2025 offseason. Without much wiggle room to use in free agency, the team could not make a big offseason splash. However, in typical 49er fashion, some of their most intriguing additions flew under the radar.
The 49ers added a league-high 11 players at the 2025 NFL Draft, led by Georgia edge-rusher Mykel Williams with the No. 11 overall pick. San Francisco spent six of those picks on defense, including its first five. That did not stop them from attacking the remaining market, where general manager John Lynch added nearly 20 more undrafted rookies.
Without much room to work with in free agency, the 49ers have several holes for undrafted rookies to potentially fill. Arguably no team is better for unheralded players to begin their careers, with Brock Purdy, Elijah Mitchell, Isaac Guerendo and George Kittle flying past their initial expectations in the last decade. Whether it be injuries or other issues, San Francisco tends to be a hub for such players to receive life-changing opportunities.
In their ideal world, San Francisco will get all their veterans back at full strength in 2025 and return to title contention. Yet, that seems to be less of a reality each year. Projecting the careers of late-round and undrafted rookies is essentially a dart throw, but the 49ers are consistently able to produce hidden gems better than any team in the league.
Receiver is not typically a position the 49ers need help in, but their situation in the 2025 offseason provides a unique set of circumstances. San Francisco traded star slot receiver Deebo Samuel to the Washington Commanders in March, paving the way for 2024 first-rounder Ricky Pearsall to accept a full-time starting role. However, with Brandon Aiyuk recovering from a torn ACL, the position group remains a wild card.
Lynch signed a host of veteran receivers after trading Samuel, but one of his most intriguing additions came after the draft. San Francisco signed 6-foot-4 wideout Isaiah Neyor as an undrafted rookie, who immediately showed out in rookie minicamp. The Nebraska alum impressed the coaching staff with his size, athleticism and length. Neyor stood out more than arguably any other rookie during the team’s three-day event.
As a 6-foot-4, 220-pound wideout who ran a 4.4-second 40-yard dash, Neyor has always been on scouts’ radars for his physicality alone. He just failed to produce on the field at college, lowering his draft stock below the seven-round reach. Consistency was also a concern with Neyor, as he spent his final three years of college with three different schools. Just months before the 2025 NFL Draft, Neyor was in the college football transfer portal looking for his fourth different team.
Despite the apparent concerns, Neyor has too many God-given abilities to overlook. He would be a hidden gem on any NFL roster, but his fit with the 49ers makes perfect sense. If there is one...
