They were two of the most improved teams in the NFL this season, and it’s not a coincidence that both the San Francisco 49ers and Oakland Raiders coached in the Senior Bowl last January.
The 49ers got an up-close look at Deebo Samuel while running the South team at the annual college All-Star game and thought enough of their time with him that they made him a second-round pick. Samuel finished second on the 49ers in receptions this season, and had a team-high 42 yards in last week’s playoff win over the Minnesota Vikings.
The Raiders took their Senior Bowl experience a step further, finishing the season with six players on their roster or injured reserve (and a seventh on practice squad) from the game, including first-round pick Johnathan Abram and No.