JW #17

Jordan Watkins

Wide Receiver · Ole Miss

A speedy Ole Miss product whose 4.37 combine dash convinced Kyle Shanahan to draft him in the fourth round.

Jordan Watkins is a wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers who arrived in the 2025 draft class after a five-year college career split between Louisville and Ole Miss. Known for his top-end speed, he spent his rookie season fighting through injury for a crowded receiver room.

★ Fourth-round pick (No. 138 overall) in the 2025 NFL Draft

★ Ran a 4.37-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine

★ Led Ole Miss with nine receiving touchdowns in 2024

Path to the league

Watkins began his college career at Louisville before transferring to Ole Miss, where he played through the 2024 season. San Francisco selected him in the fourth round, 138th overall, in the 2025 NFL Draft after he ran a 4.37-second 40-yard dash at the combine, a time that Kyle Shanahan singled out as the reason for the pick.

Career highlights

Across 60 career college games and 42 starts between Louisville and Ole Miss, Watkins caught 185 passes for 2,682 yards and 18 touchdowns while also working as a return specialist. His best season came in 2024, when he led Ole Miss with nine receiving touchdowns and averaged 18.5 yards per catch.

2025 season recap

Watkins suffered a high-ankle sprain in the preseason but still made San Francisco's 53-man roster. He was active for just four games as a rookie and finished with two catches on three targets for 26 yards, a limited debut as he worked his way back from the injury behind a deep receiver room.