If all else fails, a tweet can’t hurt.
After going undrafted and unsigned last weekend, East Carolina wide receiver Isaiah Winstead posted a short video on social media of his highlights from a college practice, writing the online equivalent of a classified ad to accompany it.
“6’4, 210 [pounds] moving like this,” Winstead tweeted. “No mini camp invite or UDFA deal. Behind the scenes on what I can do. With 88 catches and 1100 yards this past season… God makes no mistakes tho, thank you in advanced [sic].”
The video took off, and by Wednesday, the 49ers took a shot on Winstead, making him the 90th member of their 90-man roster.
According to San Francisco GM John Lynch, it wasn’t the video that caused them to sign Winstead.
He told KNBR that the team’s scouts “had just been on him for some time.”
Winstead, though, credits the social media virality.
“That’s when I started getting a lot of calls,” he told USA Today.
According to USA Today, Winstead said he had interest from the CFL, USFL and XFL, plus a few conversations with NFL teams that never went anywhere, before the video.
But that quickly became a half-dozen NFL teams with hard offers, and Winstead said that one wide receivers coach said he’d seen the tweet when reaching out.
He committed to attend minicamps with the Eagles and Falcons, then when the 49ers called, his agent reportedly asked for a better offer to back out of those commitments.
The 49ers responded by giving him a deal as an undrafted free agent.
He’ll report to minicamp on May 12, and since he’s already signed, should have a chance to attend OTAs and training camp as well, with the ability to compete for a roster spot.
The video, as of Saturday morning, had been viewed 2.1 million times and been picked up by SportsCenter.
Winstead, reportedly, expected it to get something like 20,000 views.
“The 49ers, they’re going to get a dog,” Winstead told USA Today. “I’m going to approach practice every day like I’ve been doing. It’s not like I’m there to be somebody I’m not.”