WR Jordan Watkins Press Conference

WR Jordan Watkins

Press Conference – April 26, 2025

San Francisco 49ers

Can you talk about your visit to Santa Clara and who you met with when you were out here earlier this month?

“Yes, sir. So, whenever I came out there earlier this month, I pretty much met everybody besides [head] coach [Kyle] Shanahan. I think coach Shanahan got a little busy. But I got to meet everybody else. I got to spend a lot of time with the receivers coach, with the offensive coordinator, we had a fun time at Top Golf. It was just a great experience and I kind of felt the energy in the room and around the facility. They really showed that they really cared about me and that they were very interested in drafting me.”

Did they talk about a plan for what you might bring to the game, what you might be doing once you get here?

“Yes. So, they kind of spoke to me about what it takes to be a 49er, especially as a rookie in coach Shanahan’s system. It’s going to be tough. It’s going to be hard to be able to work my way up onto the field as a rookie. But I think the thing that makes San Francisco very special is that they really care about football there. And they told me that if you care about football and you love football, then you’re going to fit in great here.”

There’s a major emphasis here for wide receivers on blocking. How were you in that area at Mississippi?

“Yeah, [Mississippi head] coach [Lane] Kiffin, he emphasizes blocking a lot. I think there’s a lot of similarities between coach Kiffin’s offense and the way coach Shanahan does things. They like to get, I guess, down and dirty a little bit with their receivers, whether we’re blocking defensive ends or cracking linebackers. So, there’s a lot of similarity between how we did it at Ole Miss and how coach Shanahan runs his system.”

What position on wide receiver do you like to play the most? Do you like the X, what is your favorite lineup spot?

“I guess I don’t really have a favorite, just wherever I see fit really. I think I favorite myself in any matchup, in any given week. I’m able to play the slot if I need to and I’m also able to play outside if I need to as well.”

You say you have to work your way up, but obviously Washington Commanders WR Deebo Samuel is not here anymore. And WR Brandon Aiyuk is injured, and he may miss part of the season, so there’s a chance to play right away. What do you think of your chances for that?

“Yeah, like you said there’s some key factors they’re missing. So, there is going to be opportunity to be able to step in and make those big plays that are needed to win football games. So, if I’m able to come in and blessed enough to work my way up to see the field, whatever that role may be, whether I need to, like you said, block, go down and block somebody or whether it’s making big plays. So, I guess I’m just happy to be able to step into those roles and make plays and help any way I can.”

Shanahan likes receivers that can separate. Did he talk about that with you? When you come out on these visits, do you have a sit down with the head coach and go over your film, stuff like that?

“Yeah, so I sat down with the offensive coordinator and the receivers coach and they kind of had a breakdown of my film. They even made me grade myself on how good I am blocking and stuff like that. They also did a breakdown of my big explosive plays, things they liked, things they didn’t like. So yeah, definitely.”

What grade did you give yourself on blocking?

“I think I gave myself like a seven and a half or an eight on blocking. And then the explosive plays, the receiver coach, he didn’t really give us a grade on that. It was just kind of more so things that he likes.”

How much credit do you deserve for making New York Giants QB Jaxson Dart a first-round draft pick?

“I don’t like to take any of the credit. Jaxson’s a heck of a player. He is a heck of a competitor. And whenever I saw the Giants traded back into the first round, I was like, ‘yeah, they’re taking Jaxson here, 100-percent’. There’s no doubt in my mind that he’s going to be a great quarterback in the NFL one day. And even if he gets time early to play, I think that he’s going to make the best of his opportunity.”

You guys were together for three years. Is that right?

“Yes, sir. Yes, sir.”

How did that rapport build through the years, and how were you guys able to feed off each other?

“Yeah, we were able to, we relied on each other a lot. I consider him to be one of my best friends. And I think that he would say the same. As soon as I got drafted, he’d seen it and he texted me immediately. So, that’s my guy, man. I don’t think that I’d be in this position that I am without him just because he trusts me and that’s the guy that gets me the ball. So, I definitely owe him a lot.”

What do you think will be the biggest adjustment as you transition to the NFL and sort of adapt your game to the 49ers system?

“I think the biggest adjustment is the playbook. Having a traditional style NFL offense compared to what we had at Ole Miss is a lot different because having time in and out between plays and things like that compared to being at Ole Miss to where it’s so fast and it’s rapid. I think that’ll be the biggest adjustment for me.”