Chris Paul Jr. was productive for multiple seasons in the SEC. Will that translate to the NFL?
The San Francisco 49ers are hosting Chris “Pooh” Paul Jr. Thursday morning, per his Instagram:
How would you feel about this LB tandem in San Francisco?
LB Chris “Pooh” Paul Jr. got to meet Fred Warner during his visit.
via Paul’s IG story pic.twitter.com/jJ4QbO1nRx
— Steph Sanchez (@Steph49K) April 17, 2025
Paul Jr. redshirted at Arkansas in 2021, before becoming a freshman All-American and making the SEC All-Fredshman team in 2022, where he started two games but appeared in all 13 games with the Arkansas Razorbacks. In 2024, Paul Jr. transferred to Ole Miss, where he was second-team all SEC and third-team All-American after leading Ole Miss with 88 tackles.
As you can see from the picture above, Paul Jr. is noticeably smaller than Fred Warner, who was measured at 6’3 3/8, 236 pounds, with a 77” wingspan. Paul Jr. is 6’0 7/8 (18th percentile), 222 pounds (3rd percentile) with arm length that’s in the first percentile. There’s no beating around the bush. Paul Jr. is small for linebacker standards.
It’s also apparent that the 49ers don’t care much about height and weight at the position, given them selecting Dee Winters in the 2023 NFL Draft. Winters height (third percentile) and weight (ninth percentile) would have led you to believe he was too small to hold up as a pro, but he proved he’s plenty physical last year. The problem is playing these smaller-bodied linebackers and expecting them to hold up on a down-to-down basis over the course of a 17-20 game season.
Winters could not do that last year. Could Paul Jr.?
Between Walter Nolen, Trey Amos, and Jared Ivey, it feels like I’ve watched every game from Ole Miss this past season. Paul Jr. translates from an athletic standpoint, and has just enough violence to pair with his speed that makes you think he can play in the NFL.
However, taking on blocks and holding his ground are significant weaknesses. Paul Jr. played behind a stellar defensive line that kept him clean and allowed him to run around and make plays. The 49ers would need to upgrade at both defensive tackle spots for Paul Jr. to flourish as a run defender. If he’s not kept clean, Paul Jr. would rather avoid the block or run around it than take it head on.
Paul Jr. is sufficient at just about everything else. I’d add that him being willingly violent and having range adds to his special teams value. He’s also a sure tackler. He seems like a player you take in the same range as Dre Greenlaw and Winters. That seems to be the sweetspot for the 49ers at linebacker, save Warner.