The Deebo Samuel era in San Francisco is officially over. The 49ers finally traded the talented yet mercurial playmaker to the Commanders over the weekend for a fifth-round pick. Now begins the tough task of replacing one of their best offensive players.
The 49ers have some cap space to work with and can look to replace Samuel in the free agent market. The WR alternatives on the market, however, are less than ideal. It mostly consists of declining veterans like Stefon Diggs and Amari Cooper or lower-level options like Diontae Johnson, Hollywood Brown, and Elijah Moore.
That is why the 49ers may prefer to find their Samuel replacement in the draft. In fact, according to NFL insider Aaron Wilson, they already met with an elite WR prospect. Isaiah Bond, who turned some heads during the NFL Scouting Combine with his confidence and speed, resulting in a 4.39 40-yard dash, reportedly had a formal meeting with San Francisco.
The #49ers had a formal meeting with Texas WR Isaiah Bond, per @AaronWilson_NFL pic.twitter.com/sJL7gc6xLi
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49ers Had a Formal Meeting With Texas Speedster Isaiah Bond
Bond is not only considered one of the best WR prospects in the draft, but he is also one of the youngest. He doesn't turn 21 until later this month but has already had a productive collegiate career. In his lone season at Texas, Bond put up 540 yards and five touchdowns on 34 catches. His 15.9 yards per reception highlight his big-play ability, while his four carries for 98 yards and a touchdown show flashes of Samuel's versatility.
Per Wilson, 12 more teams met with Bond at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine. This is understandable considering the endless upside Bond possesses with his physical and athletic tools. He is expected to be a late-second, early third-round pick in most mock drafts, but a team can very well reach for him earlier than anticipated, thanks to the amount of interest he has generated so far.