Could Teddye Buchanan Be the Key to Ending Cal’s Draft Drought with the 49ers?
As the San Francisco 49ers gear up for their local pro day on April 9, 2025, all eyes are on Teddye Buchanan, a standout linebacker from the University of California. Buchanan, a Bay Area native who led Cal in tackles during the 2024 season after transferring from UC Davis, might just be the player to break a 24-year streak: the last time the 49ers drafted a Cal player was in 2001, when they selected Andre Carter in the first round. With an impressive resume—114 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, and 5 sacks in his final college season—Buchanan is generating buzz as a potential draft pick who could bolster the 49ers’ linebacker unit, particularly alongside All-Pro Fred Warner.
Buchanan’s journey to this moment has been marked by determination and local pride. Growing up in Palo Alto and starring at St. Ignatius High, he watched 49ers games at Candlestick Park, including the 2011 NFC Championship. Now, he’s set to showcase his skills at Levi’s Stadium, hoping to catch the eye of a team he’s admired his whole life. “It’d be amazing to play for the Niners,” Buchanan said after Cal’s pro day. “I’ve been a fan forever, and getting that chance would be unreal.” His admiration for Warner, whom he calls “the ultimate linebacker,” only fuels his drive to join the 49ers’ ranks.
The 49ers’ linebacker corps could use a boost after losing Dre Greenlaw to the Denver Broncos in free agency. Buchanan’s athletic profile—he led linebackers at the NFL Combine with a 40-inch vertical, a 10½-foot broad jump, and 26 bench press reps—pairs well with his on-field instincts and speed, traits he believes mirror Warner’s game. While he’s projected as a Day 3 pick, his combine performance and local ties could elevate his stock. For Cal fans, a Buchanan selection would end a long wait to see a Golden Bear in red and gold again, while for the 49ers, it might just mean finding a hidden gem to shore up their defense under returning coordinator Robert Saleh.
Teddye Buchanan’s journey to the NFL Draft spotlight is a testament to his resilience and adaptability, qualities that could resonate deeply with the 49ers’ defensive ethos under returning coordinator Robert Saleh. After starring at St. Ignatius High in San Francisco, Buchanan honed his skills at UC Davis, where he amassed 208 tackles and 14 forced fumbles across four seasons, before transferring to Cal for a breakout 2024 campaign. His combine performance—leading linebackers with a 40-inch vertical, a 10½-foot broad jump, and 26 bench press reps—underscored his athletic prowess, while his 4.6-second 40-yard dash showcased the sideline-to-sideline speed he touts as his greatest asset. Beyond stats, Buchanan’s football IQ and coverage skills, honed in Cal’s ACC battles, align with Saleh’s vision for a versatile linebacker corps. With Dre Greenlaw’s departure to Denver leaving a void, Buchanan could complement Warner as a dynamic, homegrown talent, potentially ending Cal’s draft drought with a storybook Bay Area homecoming that fans would relish.