You've probably seen the highlights by now. That 6-foot-4 frame leaping over a helpless cornerback, the massive 34-inch arms extending to pluck a ball out of the stratosphere. It’s the kind of stuff that makes scouts drool and Madden players reach for the "edit player" button. But the story of the Isaiah Neyor NFL draft journey isn't just a list of measurables or a clean upward trajectory. It’s been a total rollercoaster. Honestly, if you looked at his college career on paper, you’d think it was three different people.
He went from being the most explosive deep threat in the Mountain West to a guy who literally couldn't get on the field at Texas, then finally back to a legitimate weapon at Nebraska. Then the 2025 draft happened. And crickets. He went undrafted. Now, as we sit in early 2026, Neyor is a member of the Green Bay Packers on a reserve/future contract. For a guy with a 4.40-second 40-yard dash at 218 pounds, how did he end up here? And more importantly, why are people in Wisconsin starting to get really excited about him?
The 2025 Draft Slide: What Went Wrong?
Most people assumed Neyor would be a mid-round pick. You just don't see his combination of size and speed every day. But NFL teams are terrified of two things: medical red flags and "flash" players who don't produce consistently. Neyor had both.
The injury at Texas was the big one. He tore his ACL in the 2022 preseason, and basically, it cost him two years of his prime development. When he finally got to Nebraska in 2024, the numbers were... fine. He had 34 catches for 455 yards and five touchdowns. Those aren't "draft me in the second round" numbers. Scouts saw a guy who still looked a little stiff coming out of his breaks. He struggled to separate against press-man coverage. Basically, he looked like a vertical specialist who hadn't quite rediscovered his lateral twitch.
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Breaking down the metrics
- The Wingspan: 34 3/8 inches. That’s 98th percentile stuff.
- The Vertical: 38 inches. He can high-point better than almost anyone in the 2025 class.
- The Speed: 4.40 at the combine. That silenced the "he's slow after the injury" doubters.
- The Production: Only 69 career catches. That's a tiny sample size for five years of college ball.
The San Francisco 49ers took a swing on him as a priority undrafted free agent in April 2025. Kyle Shanahan loves a big-bodied receiver who can block, and Neyor fits that "X" receiver profile. But the Niners roster was deep. He didn't make the cut in August. That’s when things got interesting.
Why the Green Bay Packers Picked Him Up
The Packers have a "type." They love athletes. They love guys with high Relative Athletic Scores (RAS). Neyor’s RAS was off the charts—a near-perfect 9.8 out of 10. When Green Bay saw him sitting there on the waiver wire after the 49ers cut him, they didn't hesitate. He spent almost the entire 2025 season on the practice squad.
It was the best thing for him.
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No pressure. No weekly game plans where he had to be "the guy." Just a year in the weight room and on the scout team, learning how to run routes from guys like Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs. By the time the playoffs rolled around in January 2026, the Packers actually elevated him for the Wild Card game against the Chicago Bears. He didn't record a stat, but the fact that they trusted him on the active roster for a playoff game tells you everything you need to know about his progress.
The "X" Factor Nobody Talks About
We talk about the Isaiah Neyor NFL draft profile like he's just a deep threat. That's a mistake. If you go back and watch his Wyoming tape from 2021—the year he averaged 20 yards per catch—he wasn't just running fly routes. He was winning on back-shoulders. He was physical.
The knock on him at Nebraska was that he didn't play "big" enough. He’d let smaller corners get into his chest. But after a year in an NFL strength program, that’s changing. He’s starting to use those long arms as weapons to keep defenders off him. He’s becoming a "quarterback-friendly" target. If Jordan Love has a guy who can win 50/50 balls in the red zone, this offense becomes even scarier.
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What to Expect in 2026
So, is he going to be a star? Kinda hard to say yet. The transition from practice squad darling to NFL contributor is a brutal one. But the Packers just signed him to a reserve/future deal this week. That means they see a path for him.
He’s 24 years old now. He’s not a "prospect" anymore; he’s a professional. He needs to show that he can do more than just run past people. If he can develop a nuanced route tree—specifically working on his deceleration at the top of the route—he could be the steal of that 2025 undrafted class.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Dynasty Owners
If you're following Neyor's career, keep an eye on these specific markers during the 2026 preseason:
- Special Teams Value: He has to play on punt and kickoff coverage to stay on the 53-man roster. If he's a "gunner," he stays.
- Red Zone Targets: Watch if the Packers use him specifically in the "fade" or "slant" game inside the 20.
- Route Variance: Does he look fluid on 10-yard out routes, or is he still just a "go" route guy?
The Isaiah Neyor NFL draft story didn't end with a jersey on a stage in Green Bay. It started in the shadows of a practice facility. He’s a classic low-risk, high-reward bet. If he hits, the Packers found a starting-caliber receiver for basically nothing. If he doesn't, he’s just another "what if" in a long line of gifted athletes who couldn't quite put it all together. But based on the way the Packers are handling him, I wouldn't bet against him.
If you want to track his progress, follow the Green Bay beat writers during OTAs in May. That’s when we’ll see if that practice squad year actually paid off. Look for reports on his "chemistry" with the second-team quarterback—that’s usually the first sign a guy is ready to make the jump.