On Monday, Tony Pauline of Draft Analyst reported that the San Francisco 49ers were giving serious consideration to using the second overall pick to select LSU running back Leonard Fournette and that the team may be ready to "give up" on Carlos Hyde.
"Sources with knowledge of the situation tell me the San Francisco 49ers are very high on Fournette and are seriously considering using the second pick of the draft to acquire him," wrote Pauline. "The new front office wants a bigger back to run the offense and they're ready to give up on Carlos Hyde, who has had his struggles staying healthy since being drafted by the franchise in 2014."
49ers general manager John Lynch was asked about Hyde following the team's local pro day and where the running back stands. "I know that when I was a player and I went through a couple coaching changes, I think as a player, one of the great things about this league and frankly what drove me to get back into it is that you're always proving yourself, I think in particular when there's a new regime," Lynch said. "And, I hope Carlos feels that way, but I can also tell you that we're really high on him and what he might be able to do in this offense. We think he can be a highly productive player, but we're eager to see.
"You have these thoughts as to do these skills translate to what we do? He's a very talented young man and we're very excited and hopeful just in the interactions we've had that he's come ready to play."
RELATED Transcript: John Lynch discusses draft, 49ers local pro day
Hyde's durability could be a genuine concern. Since becoming a starter, he has been available for just 20 of the team's 32 games over the past two seasons.
In 2016, Hyde finished the season just 12 yards shy of his first 1,000-yard rushing season. Over the past two seasons, he has rushed for 1,468 yards and nine touchdowns while averaging 4.42 yards per carry.
As we mentioned on Monday when the rumor was reported by Pauline, this isn't the first time Fournette has been linked to the 49ers' top pick. Kevin Jones of KNBR heard the same thing while at the NFL Scouting Combine.
"One crazy rumor I did hear, though, that Leonard Fournette might be in play at number two for the 49ers," Jones said during a March 1 interview on KNBR. "That he's that talented of a player. They truly may believe that he's the best player in the draft. That would be wild because you already have Carlos Hyde. It wouldn't really make sense but if you think Fournette is going to be that good, is going to be a 15-hundred yard back a year and you're not sure on other guys, I think they would receive so much criticism for that move but I hear he's not being scratched off the board at number two."
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