SANTA CLARA — As coach Kyle Shanahan told fourth-round pick Isaac Guerendo in Saturday’s draft-day phone call: “It’ doesn’t matter when you go. It’s where you go.”
On Friday, the 49ers’ rookies hit the practice fields for the first time as professionals. Six of their draft picks were under contract before practice, all but first-round pick Ricky Pearsall and sixth-round offensive lineman Jarrett Kingston.
The reigning NFC champions also officially signed the following eight undrafted players:
Running back Cody Schrader (Truman State, Missouri)
Coach Kyle Shanahan’s system and running backs coach Bobby Turner have a strong history of turning undrafted running backs into stars. Schrader certainly could emerge in that capacity. He won the Burlsworth Trophy as the nation’s top player who started his career as a walk-on, having joined Missouri in 2022 after three years at Truman State. He also took in AP First-Team All-America honors, led the SEC with 125.1 yards per game, set Missouri’s single-season rushing record (1,627 yards), scored at least one touchdown in each of his final 10 games, and he was the first SEC player to eclipse 200 rushing yards and 100 receiving yards in a game (against Tennessee). He closed his tenure with a game-winning touchdown and 128 rushing yards in a Cotton Bowl win over Ohio State.
Schrader joins a 49ers backfield led by NFL rushing champion Christian McCaffrey. In reserve, the 49ers have Elijah Mitchell, Jordan Mason, Patrick Taylor Jr., and the recently added rookies — Guerendo and Schrader.
Wide receiver Terique Owens (Contra Costa College, Florida Atlantic, Missouri State)
Two weeks after auditioning at the 49ers’ local pro day, Owens reportedly landed a $6,500 signing bonus to join the franchise where his father, Terrell, began his Pro Football Hall of Fame career. The younger Owens (6-foot-3, 200 pounds) is a late bloomer who attended Bishop O’Dowd High-Oakland before going on to play at Contra Costa College (2018), Florida Atlantic (2019-20) and Missouri State (2021-23).
Terique Owens and his father trained together ahead of the draft, and at the 49ers’ pro day, Terrell Owens said: “He plays similar to me at the beginning of my career,” the elder Owens told this news organization. “He’s raw, he’s green, and he hasn’t had a lot of reps and experience, and that’s what will help him.”
Center Drake Nugent (Stanford; Michigan)
Seven of the 49ers’ eight draft picks transferred during their college careers, and Nugent did so, too. He started the final two of his four years at Stanford and was a 2022 captain. Then he headed to Michigan and started at center on its national championship team, all while securing First Team All-Big 12 honors as well as being a Rimington Trophy finalist among the nation’s top centers. Nugent (6-foot, 298 pounds) is among several players the 49ers will audition at center to back up Jake Brendel.
Quarterback Tanner Mordecai (Oklahoma, SMU, Wisconsin)
Two years after Brock Purdy played the role of the No. 4 quarterback in camp, that job could belong to the well-traveled Mordecai this spring and summer, behind Purdy, Josh Dobbs and Brandon Allen. Mordecai (6-foot-2, 210 pounds) played just last season at Wisconsin after starting his collegiate journey as an Oklahoma backup for three years, then clocking two seasons at SMU. Sidelined 3 1/2 games by a broken hand, Mordecai’s time at Wisconsin saw him play 10 games, pass for 2,066 yards (nine touchdowns, four interceptions), and run for 302 yards (four touchdowns; 4.5-second speed in the 40-yard dash).
Tight end Mason Pline (Ferris State, Furman)
The 49ers didn’t draft a tight end, so it made sense they pursued Pline, whose big frame (6-foot-6, 254 pounds) could be groomed into an intriguing pro. Pline spent four years at Ferris State, playing basketball for three seasons before helping its football team to back-to-back NCAA Division II national championship teams. Last season, he had 32 catches, 287 yards and four touchdowns for Furman.
Defensive tackle Evan Anderson (Florida Athletic)
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The 49ers splurged to sign Anderson: $30,000 to sign and $250,000 of his base salary guaranteed, NFL reporter Aaron Wilson said. Anderson recorded 20 tackles for loss over his four-year tenure at Florida Atlantic, including 58 tackles and 3 1/2 sacks last season. The 6-foot-1, 320-pound plugger participated in the East-West Shrine Game.
Safety Jaylen Mahoney (Vanderbilt)
The 5-foot-11, 188-pound Mahoney played five seasons at Vanderbilt, the past two as a team captain. Of his 17 career pass breakups, six came this year. His career-high 16 tackles (10 solo) against Georgia were the most by a Vanderbilt player since 2019.
Offensive lineman Briason Mays (Southern Mississippi)
Instead of signing the undrafted Frank Gore Jr,, the 49ers bring in one of his linemen. Mays (6-4, 295 pounds) started at center but also had experience at tackle. He spent three years at West Virginia before transferring in 2021.
