The speedster from Texas should have a better pro career than he did in college.
Once the news over the weekend that the San Francisco 49ers had traded Deebo Samuel to the Washington Commanders emerged, adding a wide receiver in the NFL Draft seemed like a matter of when and not if.
Jauan Jennings’s contract voids after the 2025 regular season, and star wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk is coming off a serious season-ending knee injury. Chris Conley is a free agent, leaving Ricky Pearsall and Jacob Cowing healthy and under contract after this season.
Aaron Wilson reported that the 49ers had a formal meeting with Texas wide receiver Isaiah Bond at the NFL Combine. Wilson stated Bond made a “strong impression.” Bond doesn’t lack confidence. He came into Indianapolis saying that he’d break his former teammate Xavier Worthy’s 40-yard dash record from a year ago:
“I am going to break the record tomorrow, for sure. I anticipate running a 4.20 or possibly if I’m feeling great, I might run 4.1.”
So, when Bond ran a 4.39 40-yard dash, it came off as “disappointing,” despite being a time 98 percent of athletes would dream of running.
In Bond’s defense, he was a state champion in Georgia’s 100 and 200-meter dash. During his media availability, Bond made his case for being a complete receiver:
“What separates me from the rest of the draft class is the sheer speed. There’s not a receiver that has the speed and capabilities that I have. It’s not just speed; I’m a complete wide receiver. I have amazing routes. If you watch the tape, you’ll see that.’’
He certainly doesn’t play like your typical track athlete. Texas asked Bond to come into the box and block safeties and linebackers.
Before Texas, Bond was recruited by some guy named Nick Saban. Bond spent two seasons at the University of Alabama before transferring once Nick Saban retired. He caught 17 passes as a freshman for 220 yards and a touchdown. Those numbers essentially tripled in 2023 as a sophomore. Bond caught 49 of his 65 targets for 671 yards and four touchdowns.
Bond’s usage as a sophomore with the Crimson Tide was night and day than his one year with the Longhorns. Bond lined up in the slot 58 percent of the time in 2023 compared to 22 percent of the time in 2024. At Texas, Bond had 34 receptions for 540 yards. His 15.9 yards per reception was two whole yards more than in 2023.
Bond finished his career with six drops on 159 targets. For a player whose average depth of target was 13 yards down the field, that’s indicative of somebody who catches the ball well. Despite having fewer opportunities in 2024, Bond also forced more missed tackles than in his previous two seasons at Alabama.
Texas runs a variety of routes. One of the issues that bogged down the 49ers’ offense last season was Deebo Samuel’s inability to win outside of the numbers. Opposing defenses would sit on Samuel’s routes, knowing he would rarely run any out-breaking routes. One of the first exposures I had when watching Bond was against Kentucky, and on the first drive, he ran a deep comeback with plenty of separation. Bond’s ability to play inside and out and run routes at all three levels makes him an appealing prospect.
Back to Bond’s combine performance. He reached 24.17 miles per hour during his 40. Only Maxwell Hairston (24.25 mph) ran faster out of all participants. Bond measured in at 5’11”, 180 pounds. His arm length of 30 1/2” would put him around the 15th percentile, while his hand size of 8 1/2” is closer to the 25th percentile for receivers. But a 4.39 makes up for a lot, as that is closer to the 90th percentile. Any coach can find room for a 4.39 player.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has Bond as the 10th wide receiver in the class. He’s listed anywhere from No. 61 to No. 111 on big boards. In mock drafts, Bond has gone as high as No. 30 and as low as No. 73.
The 49ers were comfortable playing Pearsall in the slot and out wide during the final month of the season. In Week 18, Pearsall played 78 percent of the snaps out wide. The Niners ask their wideouts to be interchangeable, and that’d be the same with Bond.