5 sleepers who can land on 49ers' draft radar with impressive NFL Combine

The 49ers have a history of landing top talent late in the draft, meaning these five 'sleepers' should garner attention during the NFL Combine.

Back in 2017, a little-known tight end by the name of George Kittle managed to put together a solid NFL Combine workout (despite a bloody nose) and flashed some solid speed despite not having the most stat-worthy collegiate career at Iowa.

The San Francisco 49ers paid attention, grabbing in Round 5 of that year's draft before subsequently turning him into the NFL's best overall tight end.

The Niners have a good track record of landing quality talent late in the draft, which probably equates to them monitoring sleeper picks and less-discussed talent, much of it taken on the third and final day of the draft every April.

Turns out, a number of these sleepers should command some attention during their workouts at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine, which kicks off this week from Indianapolis.

Related story: When is the NFL Combine? Dates, schedule and how to watch

These five, in particular, could land themselves squarely on San Francisco's target board with solid combine workouts.

No. 1: LB Danny Stutsman, Oklahoma

There's a good chance the 49ers bid farewell to linebacker Dre Greenlaw as he hits free agency, and his near season-long injury absence in 2024 highlighted just how bad their depth was behind All-Pro Fred Warner.

The Niners won't use a prized draft asset to replace Greenlaw, but waiting until the early stages of day three would be smart.

Especially if Oklahoma's Danny Stutsman slips into Round 4.

Stutsman has shown up on Niner Noise's radar already, and the 6-foot-4 and 240-pound backer is adept in coverage, much like Greenlaw. While there are some concerns with his run defense, Stutsman nevertheless makes up for it with good speed, a trait that should be on display in Indy.

No. 2: WR Tez Johnson, Oregon

Like Greenlaw, San Francisco is poised to dismiss All-Pro wide receiver Deebo Samuel after his recent trade request.

Whether it's via trade or an outright release, Samuel's impending departure casts even more doubt on a thin wide receiver room entering 2025. Brandon Aiyuk is still recovering from last season's ACL and MCL tears, second-year pro Ricky Pearsall is promising but developing and Jauan Jennings is about the only true No. 1 who's ready to go right now.

This year's wide receiver class isn't particularly promising, but the 49ers are likely to take at least a day-three flier on a pass catcher who can check off a lot of boxes.

Oregon's Tez Johnson, who tallied 2,080 yards and 20 touchdowns over the last two years, fits the bill.

Sure, drops are a concern. So is his smallish 5-foot-10 and 160-pound frame. But, as a shifty slot receiver with punt-return ability, Johnson can be a gadget-type weapon who gets open and extends plays with savvy route running.

No. 3: WR Dont'e Thornton, Tennessee

If the Niners are concerned with Johnson's size, they could turn to another sleeper at the position, Tennessee's Dont'e Thornton, whose 6-foot-5 and 185-pound frame is a bit more enticing.

Not as physical as his fellow Volunteer alumnus, Jennings, Thornton was nevertheless explosive enough in 2025 by averaging a whopping 25.4 yards per reception.

A yards-after-the-catch machine, Thornton is rumored to have excellent speed in addition to his long frame, which could make for an intriguing draft-day target.

Keep an eye on his combine workouts to see if both his speed and hops are enticing to what San Francisco needs.

No. 4: OL Charles Grant, William & Mary

Small-school prospects are often sleepers by default, as they rarely command the national attention as prospects from large programs.

William & Mary offensive tackle Charles Grant helped put himself on the radar, though, leading up to the Senior Bowl, and a solid NFL Combine could also put him in the running for day two of the draft.

The 49ers own a compensatory pick late in Round 3, so they wouldn't mind if Grant has a solid combine that pushes him into third-round consideration. Plus, it's not as if they want to avoid addressing their offensive line anyway. Left guard Aaron Banks is a pending free agent, left tackle Trent Williams is 36 years old, and upgrades could be had over center Jake Brendel and right tackle Colton McKivitz.

Grant has positional versatility, and his 6-foot-4 and 300-pound frame moves well.

No. 5: DB Malachi Moore, Alabama

The Niners are likely to prioritize their defensive and offensive lines, linebacker and wide receiver early in the draft, delaying other needs until much later.

A sneaky-yet-notable need is at safety where San Francisco is also likely to lose All-Pro Talanoa Hufanga to free agency. Sure, second-year pro Malik Mustapha is on the ascent. But, in light of 2023 rookie Ji'Ayir Brown's regression last season, it wouldn't be shocking at all to see the 49ers use a day-three pick on a defensive back who can help beef up the depth chart.

Alabama's Malachi Moore, 6-foot-0 and 198 pounds, is built for zone-style defense as a rangy single-high coverage option, which is to be expected with the return of coordinator Robert Saleh.

Moore's physicality is lacking, and he might not be quite as interchangeable with the tougher Mustapha. Yet the former makes up for it with playmaking ability, evidenced by his eight pass breakups and two interceptions snagged last season for the Crimson Tide.

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