Could the 49ers’ undrafted free agent class yield a starter? History says yes
Jack Boumeester, Wesley Grimes and six other undrafted free agents the 49ers signed Sunday are largely unknown for now.
If history is a guide, at least one of these players could become a starter for the 49ers or elsewhere in the NFL.
San Francisco has several starters who entered the league undrafted. While the seven-round draft feels exhaustive each year, the truth is good prospects, even Hall of Fame caliber ones, can slip through. Players in Canton who went undrafted include Kurt Warner, Larry Little and former 49ers running back Joe Perry.
Here’s a look at the 2026 undrafted free agent class for the 49ers and who on the roster has been undrafted in the past but now has a key role.
2026 undrafted free agents signed by the 49ers
The 49ers announced the following undrafted free agent signings on Sunday. In order of their predraft ESPN rankings, these players are:
Bryson Eason, Tennessee defensive lineman, rated No. 171: Eason was a four-star recruit out of high school and had a predraft ranking suggesting he would be a fifth round pick. But a draft website expressed concerns about his tackling and pass rush skills, and described the floor for him as a “a practice squad body who provides depth during camp.”
Khalil Dinkins, Penn State tight end, rated No. 288: Dinkins’ predraft ranking suggested he was always a fringe pick. Position-wise, though, tight end can be a great way for an undrafted free agent to make the 49ers. Jake Tonges, who started two games last season for injured George Kittle, entered the league this way, as did two-time former 49er tight end Ross Dwelley.
James Thompson, Illinois defensive lineman, rated No. 319: Thompson had seven sacks in his collegiate career, playing for Wisconsin and Illinois. Niners Nation noted that Thompson was third-best among defensive tackles in his draft class for quick-pressure percentage.
Jalen Stroman, Notre Dame safety, rated No. 338: Stroman’s older brother Greg has been a member of five NFL teams and most recently played for the New York Giants during the 2024 season.
Mikail Kamara, Indiana defensive lineman, rated No. 375: Kamara was the defensive MVP for the national championship game.
Jack Boumeester, Texas punter, no ranking: Boumeester was All-Big 12 for Utah before transferring to Texas for his final season, per the Houston Chronicle. He began the season with Texas on the watchlist for the Ray Guy Award, given annually to college football’s best punter. He averaged 44.5 yards per punt with the Longhorns.
Wesley Grimes, North Carolina State wide receiver, no ranking: Grimes played for Wake Forest before transferring to North Carolina State. Then-Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson told the Winston-Salem Journal that Grimes was “a really good player and we worked really hard to recruit him (to stay) and he thought he had a better opportunity elsewhere.”
Will Pauling, Notre Dame wide receiver, no ranking: Played his final collegiate season for the Fighting Irish after previously playing for Wisconsin and Cincinnati. He had 74 receptions for Wisconsin in 2023 and can run a 40-yard dash in 4.48 seconds.
Current 49ers who were undrafted
Undrafted free agent classes might just seem like future names of roster cuts or practice squad members. Here are some players on the 49ers roster who were undrafted free agents:
- Eddy Piñeiro, kicker: Piñeiro replaced Jake Moody, a former third round pick and made 28 of 29 field goal attempts, earning a four-year extension in March.
- Jake Tonges, tight end: He is likely to start until at least George Kittle returns from injury.
- Jon Weeks, long snapper: Long snappers can come from random places. Weeks trained to become a firefighter before he found a longtime spot with the Houston Texans. Now 40, Weeks joined the 49ers for the 2025 season and made the Pro Bowl.
- Jake Brendel, center, and Robert Jones, guard: Brendel has been a four-year starter and Jones could compete for a starting job this season.
- Corliss Waitman, punter: Signed with San Francisco in March.
Aside from Perry, another prominent former 49er who was undrafted is quarterback Jeff Garcia, who succeeded Steve Young as the team’s starter. Technically speaking, even Young didn’t get selected in the regular NFL draft — he was a supplemental selection in 1984 while he was in the USFL with the Los Angeles Express.
