PFF names cornerback as 49ers' undrafted free agent to watch

Pro Football Focus (PFF) editor and contributor Ben Cooper recently evaluated all of the undrafted free agents signed by NFL teams following the 2025 NFL Draft, selecting one standout from each team worth watching.

The San Francisco 49ers have a track record of uncovering talent in the undrafted free agent market, and Cooper believes BYU cornerback Jakob Robinson could be their next hidden gem. The selection appears to be tied to uncertainty surrounding the 49ers' current cornerback group as they head into the 2025 season.

"The 49ers are set to field one of the shakiest cornerback groups on paper in the NFL, so perhaps the team has high hopes for Robinson, their lone UDFA signing at cornerback," Cooper wrote.

Robinson tallied 102 tackles, seven interceptions, and a touchdown over his final two seasons at BYU. He'll join a cornerback group that includes Deommodore Lenoir, Renardo Green, and third-round draft pick Upton Stout, a rookie out of Western Kentucky.

"Robinson earned a 65.0-plus PFF coverage grade in all but one of his four seasons at BYU, and he didn't allow a passer rating above 100.0 in coverage in any of those campaigns," Cooper continued. "In the Cougars' bowl-game win over Colorado, he limited LaJohntay Wester and Jimmy Horn Jr. to two catches for 3 yards. And Arizona's Tetairoa McMillan, the No. 8 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, didn't secure a catch when matched up with Robinson in BYU's Week 7 win."

The young cornerback posted a 74.4 defensive grade, 69.9 run-defense grade, and 72.5 coverage grade in 2024—all career highs. The 49ers hope they've uncovered another hidden gem in Robinson.