The San Francisco 49ers added a running back in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft because—well, it wouldn't be a 49ers draft without adding a running back. With the 147th overall pick in the fifth round, they selected Oregon standout Jordan James.
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The move made plenty of sense. The 49ers traded away Jordan Mason this offseason—the team's leading rusher in 2024. While star running back Christian McCaffrey is finally healthy and Isaac Guerendo showed flashes during his rookie campaign, injuries ravaged the running back room last season. Reinforcements were needed heading into 2025.
Interestingly, James reminds the 49ers a lot of Mason, and general manager John Lynch explained why after the draft.
"We felt like losing [Jordan] Mason, he's a guy who can carry a heavy load if we're spelling Christian, if Isaac needs a rest," Lynch told team reporter Lindsey Pallares. "Or competing with Isaac for who's the better matchup for that specific week.
"Jordan (James), very similar style to [Mason], a guy who's a physical runner, has really good vision, has speed. It doesn't show up in the top end, but it shows up in his play."
James rushed for 1,267 yards and 15 touchdowns while averaging 5.4 yards per carry in his final season at Oregon, per Sports Reference. In 2023, he averaged an even more impressive 7.1 yards per attempt, scoring 12 total touchdowns.
"I'm trying to get those points on the board," James told reporters after being drafted. "I want to be explosive in everything I do."
It's James' physical style of play that particularly attracted the 49ers. The nearly 5-foot-10 running back clocked a 4.55-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine—not blazing speed, but when paired with his physicality, it's more than enough to be dangerous.
"And he's a physical runner," Lynch added. "He leaves a lot of defenders hurting, and it's a style we like, and I think he's going to complement what we do well. He also has some third-down versatility, really good hands, runs good routes.
"And so, Jordan James was kind of a no-brainer. We also think he can do some kickoff returning for us."