I think you're grossly overvaluing the reality of an UDFA WR. Its one of the most oversigned positions in the OTA/ Training Camp months because each team wants to give extra reps to QBs and DBs while also not running their actual WRs ragged. Banks was also a "Metro Signee," which is an NFL rule where each team can sign 2 to 3 extra local kids for OTAs/ training camp. I will be shocked if he even makes it to week 3 of Training Camp.
There is a major reason why every NFL team did a shit ton of homework on Isaiah Neyor. He physically looks and tests like Randy Moss. And there is a reason why every team passed on him in the draft. He has hands like peat moss. Neyor had 18 receptions in his last 7 games at Nebraska. He also had 7 drops in those last 7 games. I do think Neyor probably will earn a Practice Squad stint for the 49ers or another team because NFL coaches and GMs are enamored with athleticism and body type templates. But he will never play a meaningful series of snaps at the Wideout position in the NFL.
Secondly, you're also failing to acknowledge the considerable differences in production and age before Banks/Neyor arrived in Lincoln compared to Key/Hunter pre Nebraska days.
If you take away Neyor's one big season at Wyoming, he only had 43 receptions in 5 seasons of College Football. Nyziah Hunter had 40 catches last season, as a 19 year-old freshman.
Jamahl Banks played in 56 college football games. While experience is valuable, lets compare him to Dane Key:
Key has played in 38 college football games, 18 less games thank Banks. All of Key's games were in the SEC. Despite playing in 18 less games during his career and coming to Nebraska 2 years younger than when Banks arrived, Key only has 120 less career receiving yards and 1 less career TD on 26 less receptions. Key will also get drafted as he is someone with a mid round draft grade.
Banks and Neyor also never even contributed in college until their 3rd seasons. Hunter went out and caught 2 TDs passes in his 2nd career game as a Freshman at Auburn. Key was the top SEC freshman receiver. Nyziah is also a more compact playmaker. He's physical, but can make dudes miss after the catch. Dane Key is a player who "rises to the occasion." His 4 best career games came at Ole Miss, at Tennessee, at Georgia, and at Florida. Neyor's 3 greatest performances in college came vs. Utah State, UTEP, and Illinois. Oddly enough, that play he couldn't make in the end zone vs. Illinois also cost Nebraska that game.
While the Portal can be flaky and the market can go off the rails at times, its also indicative of a players overall value.
Nebraska had to beat out Rutgers and Michigan State for Jamahl Banks, prior to his transfer. Neyor was heading to Washington State or Oklahoma State when Nebraska connected with him.
Dane Key was offered pots of cash by Ole Miss, Georgia, Auburn, South Carolina, and Miami before choosing Nebraska out of the portal. Hunter was immediately coveted by Washington, Auburn, USC, Indiana, and Arizona State when he announced a transfer.
A lot of programs with good offenses wanted Key and Hunter a LOT more than they wanted Banks and Neyor.
Also, Jacory Barney was a true freshman. He averaged only 7 yards per catch during the month of September, his first month of college football. It shouldn't be a shock that with his development and Dana coming on board, he was averaging more than 11 yards per catch in the month of November. Barney was clearly much better in the last month of his freshman season than he was in his first, and outside of being sidelined by an injury, he should be able to not only pick up where he left off, but play at even higher level.
Now I just wrote a lot of words to make a simple point:
This is a much more talented and dangerous receiving core going into 2025. And that's not really hyperbole. There is plenty of data to prove that's the case. I'm also not even referring to Mozee or Cortez Mills. You don't need to even bring them up at this point.
