‘Jordan Watkins has been balling from day one': Why 49ers rookie WR is turning heads

San Francisco Chronicle​

2 days ago

Moments after Jordan Watkins fulfilled his lifelong dream of being drafted into the NFL, his celebratory mood hit a speed bump. The fourth-round pick realized even a 4.37-second 40-yard dash would not help him escape the wringer specially made for San Francisco 49ers rookie wide receivers.
From former college wideout Kyle Shanahan, with tough love.
'It's going to be hard to be able to work my way up onto the field as a rookie,' Watkins said less than a minute into his introductory Zoom. He was briefed by his uncle, a longtime 49ers fan all too aware that most first-year pass catchers fall short of the Shanahan standard.
The way Watkins carried himself at Ole Miss practices assured his college receivers coach George McDonald he would be more than OK.
Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin would occasionally call out plays during the week from multiple seasons prior, so much so that McDonald deferred to Watkins, then in his third year with Kiffin: 'I would be looking at him like, 'What is this play?' and he'll be able to regurgitate it and get everybody lined up like we had just installed it.'
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In a storybook ending to his college career, Watkins hauled in seven passes for 180 yards and two touchdowns in a 52-20 Gator Bowl blowout against Duke. McDonald said one of Watkins' touchdowns came on an in-game adjustment made thanks to feedback Watkins offered on cornerback leverage for a play call; he ran to the sideline between snaps to communicate it. Watkins was in for six the next time they ran the same play.
'He was probably one of the more cerebral players I've coached over the course of my career,' McDonald said. 'I always told guys he could go play any position on the field and know how to do it. So I was always impressed with his football IQ and then his understanding of how everything fit in the big picture.'
Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel are the only wideouts who played more than 700 snaps as 49ers rookies since Shanahan took over in 2017. But for every Aiyuk, there is a Dante Pettis. For every Deebo, a Danny Gray. Jalen Hurd. Ronnie Bell. The list of forgettable names goes on.
Drawing on 24 years of college and NFL coaching experience, McDonald said Watkins has the mental makeup to overcome the steep learning curve.
McDonald coached the now 23-year-old only for his final season at Mississippi, but that was enough for him to glean how Watkins, despite an early-season hamstring injury, managed to lead the Rebels with a career-high nine receiving touchdowns — and five in the span of one Saturday afternoon. En route to a 63-31 road win over Arkansas, Watkins set school records with 254 yards and five touchdowns on just eight catches.
'He (tied) the SEC record for touchdowns in a game just based off of the detail that he knew of the opponent he was going against,' McDonald said.
It was a breakthrough that seemed far off when Watkins missed the season opener and then came off the bench to combine for just five catches across four Saturdays. He did not make his first start of the season until game six, but he finished with 906 receiving yards and nine touchdowns on 18.5 yards per catch, all career highs.
Watkins had built a strong rapport with Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart, whom the Giants selected 25th overall in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft. According to Pro Football Focus, Watkins sported the highest NFL passer rating when targeted (calculated slightly different from the equivalent college metric) among FBS receivers with a minimum of 50 targets: 153.8. A perfect NFL passer rating (or RTG), is 158.3. Watkins was the only qualifying wideout with an RTG at or above 150.
And as 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy has quickly discovered firsthand, Watkins was also one of the most productive deep threats in college football (per PFF), with 544 receiving yards on targets thrown 20 or more yards past the line of scrimmage. Only three receivers recorded more yards at that depth.
'Jordan Watkins has been balling from Day 1, really,' Purdy said in minicamp. 'He's come in and has done everything pretty right.'
Readiness is arguably as important as opportunity. Second-year wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (hamstring) remains on a steady ramp-up schedule. Question marks are attached to wide receivers Aiyuk (knee), Jauan Jennings (calf) and Jacob Cowing (hamstring). And so Watkins has primarily played with the first-team unit this week, along with veteran Demarcus Robinson (himself awaiting a potential DUI-related league suspension).
Purdy did not hesitate Tuesday to heave Watkins a home-run ball on a deep post route more than 40 yards downfield. Watkins ran underneath it with ease, having beaten the cornerback in coverage and the safety help over the top.
The occasional practice highlight won't be enough to win over Shanahan, a play-calling head coach who wore a subtle grin Sunday as he detailed the offense's first 'call-it' period of training camp. His young wideouts were not allowed to reference a script of plays, and each call would be relayed in between snaps. Shanahan seemed slightly amused by their struggles, if only to suggest the inexperienced young men in that room had much to learn.
'I mean, they're spinning right now,' Shanahan said. 'Once you think you got it, it gets a lot worse the next day. … So they had no idea what's coming, and I think that showed a little bit of rust. They're in their playbooks, but they definitely can't be content with it.'
Watkins knew what he signed up for. By the time Aiyuk returns, the rookie may be hard-pressed to find the field. But as the 49ers deal with their stack of receiver injuries, there may be no wider window of opportunity than the one Watkins has right now.
'Rookies might not play a lot,' Watkins said, 'but I'm different. That's my mindset.'