The San Francisco 49ers had a fatal flaw in their draft strategy during the Kyle Shanahan-John Lynch Era.
Their inability to find a productive running back in the third and fourth rounds was ultimately overcome by late-round and undrafted players, but they still wasted three third and fourth-round picks on the position. In 2017 they selected Joe Williams in the fourth round. In 2021 they took Trey Sermon in the third round, and then picked Tyrion Davis-Price in the third round the following year. None of those players finished a second season with the 49ers, making the team 0-for-3 with mid-round RBs.
That appears to have changed following the selection of RB Isaac Guerendo late in the fourth round of the 2024 draft.
Guerendo, who is expected to return in Week 17 after missing Week 16 with a hamstring injury, has already out-produced the 49ers’ previous three third and fourth-round RBs combined.
Williams, Sermon and Davis-Price played in 16 games for San Francisco and combined for 287 yards and one touchdown on 81 carries. They also contributed three catches for 26 yards on six targets.
Guerendo in only 14 games — 10 of which he posted five or fewer carries — has blown those numbers out of the water. He’s up to 381 yards and four touchdowns on 73 carries. He also has 11 catches for 87 yards on 12 targets.
It’s clear Guerendo fits the 49ers’ offense, and he should have a role in their backfield as long as he’s able to stay healthy. His rookie season has been wildly successful compared to the exceedingly low bar set by the other mid-round RBs of the Shanahan-Lynch era. The next step will be ensuring he remains productive well beyond his first year so it doesn’t ultimately go down as another wasted draft pick.
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