One of the 49ers’ myriad of intriguing roster decisions will come at one of their deepest positions. While San Francisco had an excellent stable of running backs, three of which turned in 500-yard seasons in 2019, there could be some changes coming to the position in the offseason.
With potential cuts coming to Tevin Coleman and Jerick McKinnon, and Matt Breida set to hit restricted free agency, the 49ers may aim to restock their running backs room with some of their limited draft capital.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan and running backs coach Bobby Turner have had a lot of success with undrafted running backs Jeff Wilson Jr and Matt Breida during their tenure with the 49ers. They also turned journeyman special teams ace Raheem Mostert into a postseason star.
The lone pick used on a running back came in the fourth round in 2017 when the 49ers selected Utah’s Joe Williams. He never cracked the roster and was released before his second season.
It’d make sense if San Francisco decided to make that investment. Planning to do so would allow them to release Coleman and McKinnon to create $9.3 million in much-needed salary cap space, although a restructure for McKinnon is on the table.
With roster spots open at running back, trying to recreate the success they’ve had with undrafted players is a pretty risky proposition. The run game is so vital to the 49ers’ success, and finding a player who produces at a high level in the undrafted pool is not easy. Shanahan and Turner have done it so far, but finding a player in the middle rounds of the draft helps increase their odds of success.
They have enough late draft capital to either target a player in Round 5 or 6, but they also have a couple of fifth-round selections they could use to move up into Round 4 to scoop up a player they like.
That wouldn’t need to be a Day 1 starter, but somebody to help shoulder the load with Mostert, and possibly Breida, would go a long way toward re-establishing the depth that made the 49ers’ ground attack so effective in 2019.
On the other hand, they have an opportunity to carry over the same group of backs they had last season. That group ran for the second-most yards in the NFL a season ago. Mostert had 722 yards, Breida went for 623, Coleman went for 544, and Wilson went for 105. McKinnon missed his second consecutive season with a knee injury, but he’s been medically cleared to play and could have a significant role in the offense if he’s able to stay on the field.
Drafting a back doesn’t necessarily mean the 49ers are getting a player who’ll be able to replace any of those guys. Their lone draft pick at the position, Williams, never played a down in the NFL. Breaking up a very good backfield and risking a wasted draft pick comes with a significant risk, especially with other needs to fill.
How the 49ers navigate the draft at running back will rely heavily on what they do in free agency. In the event they do part ways with Coleman and McKinnon, it seems almost impossible that they wouldn’t try to replace them with a draft pick. However, if they do keep the group together – using a pick on another running back wouldn’t be a good use of already limited resources.
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