"I would love to play with him one day," the older McCaffrey said in December. "That would be the coolest thing ever. So I'm excited for him and his journey, and he's only going to get better."
However, fate had different plans.
Luke did hear his name called on Day 2 of the 2024 NFL Draft, but not by the 49ers. Instead, the Washington Commanders selected him. Their draft is led by former 49ers assistant general manager Adam Peters. Shortly after the selection, Christian took to social media to extend his heartfelt congratulations to his younger brother.
"Couldn't be more proud of my brother [Luke]," Christian wrote. "What a story. Bet on yourself every step of the way. What a story."
In December, Christian had praised his brother, offering a scouting report for NFL teams.
"If I'm a scout, he's got every tool you need," Christian said. "He's fast, he's big, he's strong. He can play any position. [49ers RB coach] Bobby Turner always talks about the greatest compliment you can give someone is that they're a football player, and that's exactly what he is. Look at how many SportsCenter top catches or whatever he had."
Luke's stock likely rose at the NFL Scouting Combine, where he narrowly bested his older brother's 40-yard dash time, clocking in at 4.47 seconds. Seven years prior, Christian recorded a time of 4.48 seconds.
Luke amassed 71 receptions for 992 yards and 13 touchdowns this past season, per Sports Reference, averaging 14.2 yards per catch. Additionally, he carried the ball 15 times for 117 yards, averaging 7.8 yards per carry.
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