Former 49ers draft pick has a new home in the AFC

On August 9, 2025, in Santa Clara, California, Junior Bergen, a wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers, was waived by the team. Bergen, a seventh-round pick of the 49ers in the 2025 draft, had shown promise during training camp but was ultimately not deemed essential to the team's needs. The San Francisco 49ers, who had not fully integrated Bergen into their roster, decided to move him on ahead of their first preseason game.

This decision highlights the challenging nature of the wide receiver position, which requires more than just the ability to catch passes. It also emphasizes the strict adherence to route running, proper blocking, and correct alignment, among other factors. Bergen's skills as a return specialist, highlighted by his eight punt returns for touchdowns during his collegiate career at Montana, were not enough to secure a spot on the 49ers' roster.

The New York Jets, however, saw potential in Bergen and signed him, replacing an undrafted free agent who was listed at 5'7" and 175 pounds. Bergen, at 23 years old, had been an underdog in his pursuit of a roster spot. His primary asset in college was his return ability, but the competition from Jordan Watkins, Jacob Cowing, and Will Pauling in the Jets' system remains to be seen.

The outcome for Bergen will depend on whether he can make an impact in camp or if this is merely a camp body for the New York Jets. Regardless of the outcome, Bergen's future in professional football is now uncertain.