2016 NFL Draft: Five High-Risk, High-Reward Prospects for 49ers
By Jerod Brown
Dwayne Washington-Running Back-University of Washington
The San Francisco 49ers have Carlos Hyde as a 3-down, starting running back for the team. Hyde showed an ability to force missed tackles, block in pass protection and be an impressive downfield runner in 2015. Although it isn’t an immediate or pressing need, the 49ers should select a running back in the 2016 NFL Draft.
If Trent Baalke is comfortable waiting until the end of the draft, he should consider University of Washington running back Dwayne Washington.
Washington is a big back–6’1″ and 221 pounds–but he excels in open space. He’s a former receiver that is excellent catching the ball out of the backfield and is able to turn on the jets for impressive yards after the catch. In a zone-blocking scheme, Washington will excel at finding cutback alleys to reverse direction and explode for long runs.
He’s less-polished than most of the running backs in this class and he plays timid, despite his large frame. The main knock against Washington is that he comes with injury issues. He was constantly exiting games early with injuries to multiple parts of his body. NFL teams will question if he can stay healthy for an entire season, and if he is willing to play through some pain.
The 49ers could use a running back to pair with Hyde and Washington will likely be a late selection. He won’t necessarily be a high-risk in that regard. He is, however, a risk because of the time, attention and snaps he might take from current-49er Jarryd Hayne.
Hayne and Washington are essentially the same player. Both run upright and possess fumble issues, however they also have the long speed to make one cut and be gone.
If the 49ers select Washington, he’ll compete with Hayne for a roster spot. The competition for Hayne could be seen as beneficial or dangerous. It will be scrutinized nonetheless. How the team handles Hayne reflects directly on Baalke and the coaching staff’s ability to develop a player.
Washington makes this list based on the risk he presents to the 49ers coaching staff and the development of Jarryd Hayne.
The 49ers have 12 draft picks and will eventually enter a scenario in which a high-risk, high-reward prospect is on the board when it’s their turn to select. General manager Trent Baalke will have to determine if the team can live with the risk of drafting certain guys in the expectation that they can become something much better.
For some of the players mentioned here, injuries have slowed down their progress. For others, murky legal issues that cloud their name, competition with current players and projections of ability all influence the risk and reward associated with their selection.
The 2016 NFL Draft is just a couple of weeks away and it is becoming increasingly apparent that the 49ers will need excellent work from Baalke to maximize the value of their picks. Unfortunately, that means taking risks in hopes that you’ll hit on a future contributor.
In cases like outside linebacker Aaron Lynch, that works. In others, like retired running back Marcus Lattimore, that fails. The draft is littered with guys that come with worries about their play, their attitudes and their physical makeup. The 49ers will have to make sure that they have weighed the risks of every pick and are betting on the potential reward.
Next: 49ers Who Could Lose Jobs to Prospects
All statistics, records and accolades courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com andSports-Reference.com unless otherwise indicated.