Rookie Minicamp kicked off Thursday at the San Francisco 49ers SAP Performance Facility, marking the official return of football as the team’s coordinators addressed the media prior to the start of workouts.
Defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak, and special teams coordinator Brant Boyer discussed the team’s offseason acquisitions, draft class, player development, and aspirations heading into the 2026 season.
During the 2026 NFL Draft, San Francisco converted six selections into eight, adding offensive talents WR De’Zhaun Stribling, RB Kaelon Black, OL Carver Willis, and OL Enrique Cruz Jr., along with defensive contributors DL Romello Height, DL Gracen Halton, CB Ephesians Prysock, and LB Jaden Dugger. The 49ers also signed eight undrafted rookie free agents, all expected to participate in rookie minicamp.
Here are seven takeaways from Thursday’s press conferences:
1. The 49ers Believe They Added Game-Changers This Offseason
The coordinators repeatedly emphasized the impact of new additions through free agency and the draft, particularly highlighting WR Mike Evans and several standout rookie picks. Kubiak described Evans as “a Hall-of-Fame wide receiver” and “a one-on-one matchup that you can exploit,” adding that he is “as competitive as they come.” Morris, who faced Evans in the NFC South in previous seasons, called the veteran receiver “a pain to defend because he has so many skills and versatility.” Morris also joked that there were “definitely some pool party people” on both sides of the ball in this year’s draft class, referencing president of football operations and general manager John Lynch’s earlier remarks about Morris’ excitement during pre-draft meetings.
2. Morris: “In the Business of Being Nosy”
Morris enters his first season with San Francisco after serving as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons. Having worked on both offense and defense throughout his career, he believes this gives him a unique perspective as a defensive coach. “Our whole career has kind of been the business of being nosy,” Morris said. He explained that collaborating with head coach Kyle Shanahan during Shanahan’s time as offensive coordinator in Atlanta helped him better grasp offensive concepts, quarterback reads, and how to communicate defensive adjustments to players. “You can actually speak in their language,” Morris said. “Being able to explain it to your players in a completely different way—I’ve really enjoyed the process of switching back and forth.” This shared football mindset has also strengthened his long-standing relationship with Shanahan. “Not many coaches in the NFL can say they coach on both sides of the ball. I am truly blessed and see it as a definite benefit to working with Kyle and those types of people,” Morris added.
3. Kubiak Shares Early Vision for Offensive Draft Picks
Kubiak emphasized that rookie minicamp serves as both an introduction to the playbook and a chance for players to start learning the systems. “You really want them to start digging into the installs and the playbook a little bit,” Kubiak said. “They need to know how we want to work and the standard we expect.” Stribling remained a frequent topic of discussion, with Kubiak outlining both short-term and long-term plans for the rookie wide receiver. “He’s a big, fast, powerful football player—a complete football player—and those guys make your team better,” Kubiak said. He also noted that wide receivers coach Leonard Hankerson immediately connected with Stribling during the draft process. “Hank, our receiver coach, it stood out to him right away,” Kubiak shared.