Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Videos are auto-populated by an affiliate. This site has no control over the videos that appear above.
The San Francisco 49ers should feel good about their running back depth. On their latest
49ers Talk podcast, Matt Maiocco and Laura Britt of NBC Sports Bay Area took a look at the team's offseason veteran additions and departures. When they landed at the running back group, Maiocco wondered if there is
too much depth.
Obviously, there is the argument that there is no such thing as too much depth. For example, the 49ers have to feel better about their quarterback position with high-potential rookie Trey Lance likely to open the season as Jimmy Garoppolo's backup. That's a better backup situation than the team had in recent years.
At running back, San Francisco didn't just add veteran Wayne Gallman, who may be a severely underrated signing. Gallman rushed for 682 yards and six touchdowns through 15 games and 10 starts last year, filling in for the injured Saquon Barkley. He is a solid offseason addition.
The 49ers also bolstered the position in the draft, selecting not one but two running backs — Trey Sermon in the third round and
Elijah Mitchell in the sixth.
While Raheem Mostert is predicted to receive most of the snaps this season, assuming he remains healthy, Maiocco wonders if the multiple offseason additions could lead to a move.
"Here's one thing to keep in mind," Maiocco told Britt. "I mean, you, me, everybody likes Raheem Mostert a lot, but the 49ers have a very good stockpile of running backs. And I just wonder, if Trey Sermon is looking good, and Elijah Mitchell is looking good, and Wayne Gallman is looking good, and we're getting good reports back on Jeff Wilson Jr.'s rehab, if JaMycal Hasty is looking good, I just wonder if they might dangle Raheem Mostert for possible trade."
Mostert led the 49ers in rushing in 2019, accumulating 772 yards and eight touchdowns on 137 carries and adding 14 receptions for 180 yards and two more scores. He took over the NFC Championship Game that season, rushing for 220 yards and four touchdowns. Mostert was limited to 521 yards, two rushing touchdowns, and a receiving touchdown last season after missing eight games due to injuries.
The running back position could be one of the more interesting training camp battles to keep an eye on. There will be some tough decisions, assuming the team doesn't trade away one of its players.
"When you think about it, teams don't want to cut good players, right?" Maiocco continued. "If everything kind of works out the way the 49ers envision, they're going to have to cut a really good running back. Would they do that? I don't know. I mean, Raheem Mostert could easily be the team's best running back. He could be a 1,200-yard rusher. But with Trey Sermon and the other backs I mentioned, it gives them some flexibility."
You can listen to the entire conversation below. The portion about the running backs begins at about the 13-minute mark.
Related News
The San Francisco 49ers are likely hoping that a top offensive lineman drops to them at No. 31 in the first round of this month's draft. Fans would like to see the team add someone to compete with Colton McKivitz for the right tackle spot and potentially take over for Trent Williams when the future Hall of Famer decides to retire.
Having two studs bookending the offensive line would go a long way in protecting franchise quarterback Brock Purdy. While tackle may be the first-round target, depending on how the first 30 selections play out, San Francisco might have to trade up to get a genuinely impactful
The San Francisco 49ers are among the 25 teams kicking off their offseason workout program today. However, don't expect to see players facing off against each other on the practice field for the next couple of weeks. The program's early portion, dubbed "Phase One," spans two weeks and includes limited activities such as meetings, strength and conditioning, and physical rehabilitation only.
The second phase of the offseason program extends for three weeks and includes on-field workouts for individual or group instruction and drills. After that, teams can hold up to 10 days of organized team activities on the practice field.
As the 49ers continue to negotiate a contract extension for wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, it's important to note that all of these sessions are
(Episode 330) — Legendary columnist Mike Silver joins the show to discuss the Brandon Aiyuk trade rumors and trade value, priorities in the secondary, Mike's book, and more! You can read Mike's work at the San Francisco Chronicle.
The audio for the show is embedded above. Remember to subscribe!
You can watch the interview below.
You can listen to the latest "No Huddle Podcast" episode above, from
The San Francisco 49ers currently hold the No. 31 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. While many expect them to address the offensive line, given their recent focus on defense in free agency, ESPN's Bill Barnwell suggests a different approach. He advocates for the 49ers to use their first-round pick on a cornerback and potentially trade up to secure the right talent.
Trading up wouldn't be out of character for the Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch regime. The last time the 49ers owned the No. 31 overall pick, they surrendered two more selections to move up to No. 25 overall, where they drafted wide receiver Brandon
