5 pass-catchers players that should be on the 49ers radar after the 2025 NFL Combine

There were some major standouts at the combine this week.

The 2025 NFL Scouting Combine took place in Indianapolis this week, where draft prospects got a chance to impress teams with their interviews, athletic testing, and on-field drills.

The San Francisco 49ers had a bigger reason to be invested this year, as they hold the No. 11 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, where they’ll look to draft an immediate-impact difference maker like they got with starting wide receiver Ricky Pearsall as a rookie.

Now, it doesn’t seem likely that the 49ers will go back to the receiver route in the first round, even after trading Deebo Samuel, given the investments they made at wide receiver last offseason with the selection of Pearsall and the extension for star Brandon Aiyuk.

But, there still is a future need for the position, as Aiyuk’s health is undetermined, while Jauan Jennings is scheduled to be a free agent after next season.

Additionally, tight end has been a position of need for years for the 49ers as they’ve struggled to find a quality complement to star George Kittle, going through a number of options.

So, there is a need for pass-catchers in the 2025 NFL Draft. Which ones stood out at the Combine as possible fits for the 49ers?

Iowa State WR Jaylin Noel

One of the biggest winners at the combine regardless of position, Iowa State wide receiver Jaylin Noel improved his draft stock this past week in Indianapolis.

Noel consistently ranked among the top wide receivers in all of the athletic testing. He was first in the broad jump at 11’2’’, tied for first in the vertical at 41.5’’, fifth in the shuttle at 4.17 seconds, fifth in the three-cone drill at 6.82, and ninth in the 40-yard dash at 4.39 seconds.

Noel also displayed his strength with 23 reps of the bench press, which was the most at the position as well.

That led to an overall Raw Athletic Score (RAS) of 9.48 out of 10, with the only detriment being his size.

Noel, who stands at 5’10, 190 pounds, is a receiver who isn’t afraid to get dirty with the physical aspects of the game, while also having significant production as a senior, catching 80 passes for 1,194 yards and eight touchdowns in 2024.

He seems best as a slot receiver, but has the size to play on the outside as well, making him a solid fit for a 49ers team that has another interchangeable receiver in Ricky Pearsall.

Noel is perceived as a good route-runner as well, giving the 49ers three potential technicians with Aiyuk, Pearsall, and the soon-to-be rookie.

LSU TE Mason Taylor

No tight end had a better on-field workout than LSU’s Mason Taylor, who especially stood out as a pass-catcher during the gauntlet drill.

Taylor, who has good size at 6’4, 250 pounds, could be a mid-round option and the future at tight end for the 49ers after George Kittle.

The 49ers have already showed interest, formally meeting with him at the Combine this week, and the tight end would be a good fit, having displayed solid hands and enough athleticism for the position.

San Francisco has long searched for a No. 2 for Kittle. In a deep tight end class, a player like Taylor could be pushed down the board just enough to fall to the 49ers. He’s someone to watch for a top-30 visit.

Utah State WR Jalen Royals

Another good route-runner in the draft class, Royals had a strong combine showing with a 4.42 40-yard dash, displaying his straight-line speed that meshes well with his movement on the field.

More impressively, Royals showed off his short-area burst with a 1.49 10-yard split, which tied the speedy Matthew Golden for the best in the entire draft class. For reference, Golden ran a 4.28 40-yard dash.

After his 40-yard dash, Royals didn’t participate in any of the other athletic testing, but the 6’0, 205-pound receiver looked good in the gauntlet drills as well, showing off his good hands.

Royals is explosive after the catch, but he also has smooth route-running and showed off the straight-line speed at the Combine.

While the 49ers didn’t meet with him this week, he’s a player who should be on their radar as his stock continues to grow.

Oregon TE Terrance Ferguson

The best athletic tester of the tight ends, Terrance Ferguson led the position in the 40-yard dash (4.63 seconds), vertical jump (39’’), and 10-yard split (1.55 seconds), while coming third in the broad jump (10’2’’).

That led to a Raw Athletic Score (RAS) of 9.57 out of 10, as he posted great testing numbers across the board, while coming in at 6’5, 247 pounds.

While some of the tight ends underwhelmed in the testing category, Ferguson used the opportunity to separate himself from the group, earning himself some more eyeballs in a deep tight end class.

Ferguson is best known as a pass-catcher, racking up good volume at Oregon, while showing solid body control and a bigger catch radius.

Those skills would be complementary to George Kittle’s, providing another younger weapon for the 49ers in their skill-position group.

Iowa State WR Jayden Higgins

Two Iowa State guys on this list may be unexpected, but both wideouts put together a good week at the NFL Combine.

Coming in at 6’4, 214 pounds, Higgins impressed with a 4.47 40-yard dash, while impressing across the board with a 9.87 Raw Athletic Score (RAS).

The explosion metrics were especially eye-catching, as Higgins’s 39’’ vertical and 10’8’’ broad jump were both in the 92nd percentile ever.

The acceleration skills were on display during Higgins’s 40-yard dash, and he participated well in the field drills during the gauntlet drill.

At 6’4, Higgins is physical and explosive, but also has some straight-line speed to him, making him one of the more unique athletes at the Combine.

The 49ers have already shown interest, having a formal meeting with him this week. He should continue to be on their radar going forward.