The San Francisco 49ers may use one of their 11 picks in the 2025 NFL Draft to bolster their backfield. Christian McCaffrey, while healthy now, missed 13 games last season due to various injuries. Meanwhile, Jordan Mason, who finished as the team's leading rusher, was traded to the Minnesota Vikings.
That leaves only veteran Patrick Taylor and second-year back Isaac Guerendo behind McCaffrey on the depth chart. It wouldn't be surprising to see San Francisco add another running back in a few weeks.
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"But Christian's healthy, he's doing great," head coach Kyle Shanahan said last week. "We got Isaac in there, working. [We're] pumped to get Patrick back, and we'll see if we add someone in the draft. But you'd like to add one every year."
FOX Sports' Eric Williams recently evaluated the top 10 running back prospects in this year's draft and matched them with ideal landing spots. He identified Arizona State's Cam Skattebo as a good fit for the 49ers, projecting him as a potential fourth-round pick (h/t to Brad Berreman of Niner Noise).
"The 49ers traded Jordan Mason and lost Elijah Mitchell to the Chiefs in free agency," Williams explained, "so the hard-running Skattebo would have a chance to earn playing time as a back-end roster player and core special teamer. In this scenario, the California native would return to the Bay Area to learn the position under a player he admires in McCaffrey."
San Francisco met with Skattebo during the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, along with several other ball carriers. Running backs coach Bobby Turner has undoubtedly spent recent months on the phone with prospects, scouting talent, and seeking a player he'd enjoy developing.
Could Skattebo be that player?
The Arizona State standout didn't run the 40-yard dash at the Combine but reportedly clocked a 4.65-second time at his pro day.
"That's not an overwhelming time for the 5-9, 219-pounder — but it's also not really a surprise, given his tape," The Athletic's Nick Baumgardner observed. "Skattebo's game is more about his explosion, effort and general leg drive. There's a role for him somewhere in the NFL."
Skattebo was a workhorse in 2024, carrying the ball 293 times for a Big 12-leading and school-record 1,711 yards and 21 rushing touchdowns through 13 games. He also added 45 receptions for 605 yards and three receiving scores, per Sports Reference. His efforts earned him first-team AP All-American and All-Big 12 honors and a fifth-place finish in Heisman Trophy voting.
Skattebo spent his first three seasons at Sacramento State before transferring to Arizona State in 2023. Over two seasons with the Sun Devils, he totaled 2,494 rushing yards on 457 attempts and 30 rushing touchdowns, adding 69 receptions for 891 yards and four receiving touchdowns.
"The Sun Devil running back may not be a burner, but he's a gamer," Sasha D. Robinson of 49ers Webzone recently wrote. "Just ask Texas, where he racked up over 200 all-purpose yards in an overtime thriller in the Peach Bowl."