From Camp Randall to the Bay: How Will Pauling’s Slot Savvy Landed Him with the 49ers as an Undrafted Free Agent

The NFL Draft is a three-day spectacle of hope, but for every name called from the podium, there are dozens of players who begin their professional journey in the quiet hours that follow. For former Wisconsin Badgers and Notre Dame Fighting Irish wide receiver Will Pauling, that moment came Sunday night. According to NFL insider Tom Pellisero, Pauling has signed with the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent (UDFA). It is a move that feels less like a consolation prize and more like a calculated bet on a player whose college career was defined by consistency, route-running polish, and a knack for finding the end zone.

Pauling’s path to the NFL is not the typical story of a combine warrior or a track-star-turned-receiver. It is a story of a technician who turned a breakout season at Wisconsin into a transfer opportunity at Notre Dame, and then leveraged that production into a chance to compete for a role in one of the NFL’s most creative offenses. For San Francisco, this signing represents a low-risk, high-reward addition to a wide receiver room that is suddenly looking for answers in the slot. For Pauling, it is the beginning of a fight to prove that his name should have been called.

The Wisconsin Breakout: A Slot Receiver’s Coming of Age

To understand why the 49ers are taking a flier on Pauling, you have to go back to the 2023 season in Madison. That was the year the Badgers’ offense, under first-year coordinator Phil Longo, needed a reliable outlet. Pauling answered the call in a major way. He finished the season with 74 receptions for 837 yards and six touchdowns, leading the team in every major receiving category.

What made Pauling’s 2023 campaign so impressive was not just the volume, but the versatility. He was not a one-trick pony. He operated primarily from the slot, but he was not limited to shallow crossers and bubble screens. Pauling showed the ability to win underneath against zone coverage, using quick breaks and sharp cuts to create separation. At the same time, he could threaten defenses down the seam, turning short throws into chunk gains with his run-after-catch ability.

He gave the Badgers an every-down target who could move the chains. In an offense that struggled with consistency at times, Pauling was the steady hand. He caught passes from multiple quarterbacks, never complained about target distribution, and simply did his job. That reliability is a trait that NFL teams—especially a detail-oriented franchise like the 49ers—value immensely.

Key stats from his Wisconsin peak include:

• 74 catches – second-most in a single season in program history at the time.
• 837 yards – a testament to his ability to produce in a run-heavy scheme.
• 6 touchdowns – showing he could finish drives, not just move the ball.
• Slot alignment on over 80% of snaps – establishing his NFL niche early.

The Notre Dame Chapter: Proving It on a Bigger Stage

After his breakout at Wisconsin, Pauling made the bold decision to transfer to Notre Dame for the 2025 season. The move was designed to test himself against a higher level of competition and in a more pro-style offensive system. The raw numbers dipped—he caught 26 passes for 381 yards and six scores—but the efficiency and the touchdown rate actually improved.

In South Bend, Pauling faced tighter windows and more complex defensive schemes. He was no longer the undisputed No. 1 target, but he remained a red-zone weapon. Matching his 2023 touchdown total on fewer than half the catches is a statistic that screams clutch. He showed the same knack for finishing drives, finding soft spots in zone coverage, and making contested catches when the ball was in the air.

This production, while not as gaudy as his Wisconsin numbers, actually helped his NFL projection. Scouts saw a player who could adapt to a new system, a new quarterback, and a new role without losing his effectiveness. He proved he was not a system-dependent player. He was a football player who could produce regardless of the uniform.

Pauling’s final college stat line—100 catches, 1,218 yards, and 12 touchdowns across two Power-5 programs—paints a picture of a player who consistently moved the chains and found the end zone. That is the kind of production that gets a UDFA a serious look in training camp.

Why the 49ers? A Perfect Fit for a Slot Specialist

San Francisco is not just any landing spot. The 49ers’ offense, orchestrated by head coach Kyle Shanahan, is a masterclass in scheme and spacing. It is an offense that prioritizes yards after the catch, option routes, and creating mismatches for skill players in space. It is, quite frankly, a dream destination for a slot receiver like Pauling.

Currently, the 49ers’ wide receiver room is headlined by Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel, but the depth behind them is a question mark. With Samuel’s role sometimes shifting to the backfield and Aiyuk’s future contract situation looming, there is a clear need for a reliable slot option. Pauling enters a competition with players like Jauan Jennings and Ronnie Bell, but he brings a different skill set. Jennings is a physical, big-bodied target. Bell is more of a vertical threat. Pauling is the route-running technician who can win on third down and in the red zone.

The 49ers have a proven track record of maximizing undrafted free agents. Kendrick Bourne started his career in San Francisco as a UDFA. Jauan Jennings was a seventh-round pick who became a Super Bowl contributor. The organization values football IQ and toughness over raw measurables. Pauling checks both boxes.

What Pauling must do to make the roster:

• Win on third down: The 49ers need a slot receiver who can consistently move the chains. Pauling’s 2023 season at Wisconsin shows he can do exactly that.
• Excel on special teams: For a UDFA, special teams is the fastest path to a roster spot. Pauling will need to show he can contribute as a gunner or returner.
• Learn the option route system: Shanahan’s offense is notoriously complex. Pauling’s experience in multiple college systems should help him pick it up quickly.
• Stay healthy: Availability is the best ability for a fringe roster player.

Expert Analysis: The UDFA Path Is a Marathon, Not a Sprint

As a journalist who has covered the NFL draft for years, I can tell you that the difference between a drafted player and an undrafted player is often simply timing and team need. Pauling was not invited to the combine, which hurts your stock. But his tape—specifically the 2023 Wisconsin tape—is good enough to earn a roster spot.

I project Pauling as a practice squad candidate with a legitimate chance to be elevated to the active roster by midseason. The 49ers typically keep six wide receivers on the 53-man roster. Aiyuk, Samuel, and Jennings are locks. That leaves two or three spots for a group that includes Bell, Danny Gray, and the UDFA class. Pauling’s slot-specific skill set gives him a distinct advantage over players who are more generic in their roles.

If he makes the team, expect him to be a red-zone specialist early on. His six touchdowns on just 26 catches at Notre Dame suggest he has a nose for the end zone. In a Shanahan offense that uses play-action and misdirection to create space in the red zone, Pauling could become a safety valve for quarterback Brock Purdy.

His biggest challenge will be physicality. The NFL slot is a brutal position. He will be asked to block safeties and linebackers in the run game. At 5-foot-10 and 195 pounds, he is undersized. But his tape shows a fighter who is not afraid to stick his nose in traffic. If he can prove he is a willing and effective blocker, his roster chances skyrocket.

Final Prediction: A Name to Watch in Training Camp

Will Pauling’s journey from Madison to South Bend to Santa Clara is a testament to his resilience and football IQ. He was not a five-star recruit. He was not a combine star. He was a football player who produced at every stop. The 49ers are betting that production translates.

I predict Pauling will survive final cuts and make the 49ers’ initial 53-man roster as the No. 5 or No. 6 wide receiver. He will see limited snaps early in the season, but by Week 8, he will have a defined role as a third-down slot option. His ceiling is a Kendrick Bourne-type contributor—a player who is not a star, but who makes critical catches in critical moments.

For Badgers fans, this is a story of pride. Pauling’s path underscores how quickly a receiver can turn a high-volume role in Madison into an NFL shot, even without hearing his name called in the draft. He joins a 49ers program known for maximizing skill players in space. The fit is real. The opportunity is there. Now, it is up to Pauling to seize it.

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Source: Based on news from Yahoo Sports.