The San Francisco 49ers’ undrafted rookie class featured a pair of wideouts who couldn’t be any different. You wouldn’t know Will Pauling was a professional athlete if he were walking down the street. He’s listed at 5’9″, 183 pounds. Wesley Grimes looks the part, 6’2″, 193 pounds.
On a roster with Ricky Pearsall, Jordan Watkins, Jacob Cowing, and Junior Bergen, we’ll focus on the bigger-bodied Grimes as the UDFA with the better chance to make it.
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Grimes has the athletic testing to go with the NFL build. At North Carolina State’s Pro Day, he had a 35″ vertical and ran a 4.35 40-yard dash. When you watched Grimes in college, his acceleration was on full display. Wide receivers running away from coverage were an issue for the 49ers in 2025, so it’s no surprise that speed was a priority for the scouting department.
Basic Info
Age: 22
Experience: Rookie
Height: 6’2
Weight: 193 pounds
Cap Status
The 49ers signed Grimes to a three-year, $3.11 million contract on May 8. With undrafted free agents, it’s always wise to follow the money. Grimes was given $200,000 guaranteed. It’s not an abnormal number, as it’s 98th among the 382 UDFA signings who received a guarantee in 2026. It’s still noteworthy.
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It’s also worth mentioning that it would be the dead money the 49ers eat if Grimes does not make the roster. The team would save $688,333 against the cap if he’s released.
Why Grimes is worthy of being stashed on the practice squad
There are multiple reasons for the 49ers to take a shot on Grimes. His height-weight-speed combo helps simulate opposing No. 1 wideouts.
Malik Turner just turned 30. The 49ers have given him plenty of opportunities, whether on special teams or as a Jauan Jennings replacement, to prove he can be a reliable option in some capacity. It’s time to turn the page on the receivers from yesteryear.
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Grimes had the profile of a Shanahan receiver. His average depth of target was 12.9 yards at North Carolina State. He average a hair over five yards after the catch. He had a 20 yard reception in six separate games. A good portion of his production came on in-breaking routes and he was efficient on targets beyond 20 yards.
Grimes has an ideal baseline to work with. At 22, you can use the same aggression he has after the catch and attempt to use that in his blocking. Grimes may not have the ceiling of a WR1, but the tools are there. The same kind of tools the 49ers have lacked at the position in recent seasons.
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