News broke on Wednesday that San Francisco 49ers running back Raheem Mostert has requested a trade after what his agent described as months of unproductive contract talks. Mostert is signed through the 2021 season but will earn a base salary of just $2.575 million this year.
Mostert and his agent either want a new deal or want the running back to go to a team that will offer him one.
What exactly is Mostert requesting from the 49ers? Is it something completely unreasonable for the team's leading rusher and the player who led all running backs in yards-per-carry last season?
It doesn't sound like it.
RELATED Raheem Mostert requests a trade after months of 'unproductive talks'
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network spoke with Mostert's agent, Brett Tessler, and said his client is seeking to become the highest-paid running back on the team. Right now, that is Tevin Coleman, who is set to earn $4.55 million in 2020.
Spoke with @TesslerSports about RB Raheem Mostert and his trade demand from #49ers. His request was simply to bring Mostert in line with the highest paid RBs on the team. Tevin Coleman makes $4.55M in 2020 and that's where Mostert wants to be. He has two years left on his deal.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 8, 2020
Mostert figures to once again receive the majority of the carries during the upcoming season after leading the team with 772 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns on 137 carries last season. He's been preparing this offseason for an increased workload with the 49ers.
"I'm actually gaining some more muscle," Mostert told reporters in May, "which is kind of bizarre just because I haven't really been able to think about gaining muscle because I've already had muscle like that. Just trying to incorporate those things in my daily workouts, so that way, I'm able to take those hits and be one of those guys getting 200 carries."
H/t to Justin Wong for the find.