Report: Terique Owens agrees to free agent deal with San Francisco 49ers

Like father, like son. Terique Owens is signing a free agent deal with the San Francisco 49ers and will play for the same team his dad did so many years before.

San Fran fans know all about Terrell Owens. He played for the 49ers from 1996 to 2003 on his way to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. According to several national reports, San Francisco is adding Terique, a star receiver for Missouri State, 28 years after the team selected TO in the third round of the NFL Draft.

Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network was one of the national reporters who provided details.

Missouri State WR Terique Owens, son of Terrell, is signing with the #49ers as an undrafted free agent, source says.

— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) April 27, 2024

Saturday night is a prime period for signing free agents. The NFL finished its seven-round, three-day draft in the early evening. This was the year to be a receiver. There were a record-tying seven drafted in the first round, with 10 taken by pick No. 37.

In fact, the 49ers used their first round pick on Florida receiver Ricky Pearsall. Then, in the fourth round, San Francisco selected Arizona receiver Jacob Cowing.

In addition, there was plenty of draft chatter that suggested the 49ers were considering trading either Brandon Aiyuk or Deebo Samuel. That still remains to be seen, but the team does need bodies at the position as the defending NFC champions head towards mini camp next month.

Earlier this month, the 49ers hosted about 40 local draft prospects from the Bay Area for a mass pro day at Levi’s Stadium. Terrell Owens was there to support his son. And he talked to the 49ers scouts about Terique. Somebody listened, although the younger Owens didn’t make it to the NFL Draft.

“I’m proud of him just to get to this point,” Terrell Owens told reporters after Terique’s workout. “He has to take these moments as huge opportunities for him show what he can do.

“He doesn’t have a lot of film-work, a lot of football-work throughout the course of his college career but there are different paths to making it to a team and making some history and success for yourself. This is definitely a step in the right direction.”

Terique was a late starter to football. He played basketball as a youngster, then gave football a try when he was a sophomore in high school. Terique took a circuitous route to get to the 49ers. He played football for Contra Costa College, then transferred to Florida Atlantic and, finally, Missouri State. Terique started two games last season. He caught 28 passes for 528 yards and 10 touchdowns.

“Obviously, I have been working to get that opportunity to be drafted, but like I said, I’m a late bloomer,” Terique said after the Pro Day. “I’ve just been getting progressively better and hoping I will have the opportunity to get drafted.”