G5 prospects 49ers will monitor closely at NFL Combine

Every year, the NFL Combine gives Group of Five prospects a chance to prove they belong on Sundays. For the San Francisco 49ers the 2026 class could offer a few intriguing fits.

Here are four G5 players to watch who could make sense for San Francisco.

Navy Midshipmen

Give Kyle Shanahan a versatile chess piece, and he’ll find a way to create mismatches. That’s exactly what Eli Heidenreich offers.

The Navy weapon has drawn “poor man’s Christian McCaffrey” comparisons because of his dual-threat ability, but stylistically, there’s arguably more Deebo Samuel to his game. He is a physical runner who can also stretch the field vertically.

Heidenreich’s senior season numbers jump off the page:

He was a true explosive play generator. His breakout moment came against Air Force, where he torched the Falcons for eight catches, 243 yards, and three touchdowns. That kind of single-game dominance forces NFL evaluators to take notice.

The flip side? Against Notre Dame, he struggled to make an impact, managing just one 15-yard rush and two receptions for 20 yards. The jump in competition showed.

The Combine will be critical. If Heidenreich tests well he could carve out a role as a motion heavy, gadget option in Shanahan’s offense. And we know Shanahan doesn’t need a full-time starter to create impact touches.

North Dakota State Bison

Yes, that Lance.

Bryce Lance is the younger brother of former 49ers quarterback Trey Lance. But front offices can’t afford to scout with emotion, and John Lynch would be wise to evaluate him purely on tape.

At 6-foot-3, 210 pounds, Lance has ideal NFL size for an outside receiver. His production backs it up:

2024:

2025:

The yardage consistency stands out. Even with fewer receptions in 2025, he maintained explosive efficiency.

San Francisco could use size on the boundary. Lance profiles as a potential red-zone weapon and vertical X receiver. The Combine will answer questions about separation ability and long speed, but the bones are there.

UConn Huskies

Skyler Bell might be the most polished of this group.

At 5-foot-11, 187 pounds, he doesn’t overwhelm with size, but his production and efficiency metrics are hard to ignore.

2025 season:

Bell was a Biletnikoff finalist and consistently productive across multiple seasons, posting 14.8 and 17.2 YPC campaigns earlier in his career.

The advanced metrics are just as impressive:

That screams reliability and yards-after-catch ability which are two traits the 49ers prioritize heavily.

Bell projects as a high-floor slot or Z receiver who can move the chains and win in traffic. Basically, he could be valuable.

Memphis Tigers

San Francisco’s offensive line depth has been tested repeatedly in recent seasons. Bell 6-foot-9, 315-pound senior tackle from Memphis offers intriguing developmental upside.

With that kind of frame, length will be his calling card. The key questions at the Combine will center around flexibility, pad level, and lateral quickness, especially in pass protection.

The 49ers don’t necessarily need a Day 1 starter here, but they do need cost-controlled depth with upside, particularly as they navigate cap space around Trent Williams and the interior line.

A late Day 2 or early Day 3 developmental tackle who can be coached up under Chris Foerster would make sense.

The 49ers have consistently found contributors outside the blue-blood programs. This year’s Combine will be huge for these four prospects. If even one tests well enough to raise his draft stock into the mid-round conversation, San Francisco could once again find value where others aren’t looking. And for a team balancing a tight cap situation, that’s exactly the type of move that keeps a roster competitive.