49ers Free Agency Needs: Breaking Down the Running Back Position
By Peter Panacy
Niner Noise begins to wrap up our NFL free-agency preview for the San Francisco 49ers. For this chapter, we take a look at Carlos Hyde and the running backs as they gear up for 2017.
Carlos Hyde will likely remain the featured offensive weapon for the San Francisco 49ers in 2017.
Under head coach Kyle Shanahan, the Niners will operate an outside-zone scheme, which our own Rich Madrid broke down late last month.
Hyde should be an OK fit in this. He operated in a zone-based scheme at Ohio State, so one can hope the transition under Shanahan is as smooth as possible.
San Francisco 49ers
The fourth-year pro will have a lot to handle. As noted earlier, San Francisco is awfully thin at wide receiver and has exactly zero quarterbacks on the roster for the upcoming year. Even though we can expect the Niners to fill in those positions, it’s hard to predict any widespread success outside of anything on the ground.
The other troubling thing is Hyde’s reliability. He has yet to enjoy a fully healthy season since taking over the featured-back roles from the former 49ers great, Frank Gore, back in 2015.
And while last year was as best a campaign as Hyde could have, he still missed 1,000 rushing yards by a mere 12.
Backing him up will also be key. Here is the list of San Francisco tailbacks on the roster for the upcoming season:
- Carlos Hyde — 2017 Cap Hit: $1.171 million, signed through 2017
- Mike Davis — 2017 Cap Hit: $732,195, signed through 2018
2017 free agents — DuJuan Harris (UFA), Shaun Draughn (UFA), Raheem Mostert (ERFA)
Projecting 49ers Roster Moves
It’s possible, albeit unlikely, the 49ers re-sign either DuJuan Harris or Shaun Draughn. Expect San Francisco to let these two journeymen tailbacks walk via free agency.
Additionally, this year’s running back class in the NFL Draft is pretty deep. The Niners would be more than wise to add some legitimate competition for Hyde and potentially have a dynamic back to spell the No. 1 ball carrier.
Remember, Shanahan had a dual-headed threat in Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman with the Atlanta Falcons last year. It shouldn’t be a surprise to replicate more of the same.
But this likely means bad news for backup runner Mike Davis, who didn’t get anywhere close to getting off the ground last season. He might stick around as a camp body into the preseason, but it’s unlikely he winds up making the roster.
Projecting Free-Agent Moves
Want in on the Adrian Peterson sweepstakes? No? Well, the 49ers probably don’t either.
In fact the overwhelming majority of free-agent runners are either right at the 30-year-old plateau or a year, or two, removed from it.
More from SF 49ers Free Agency
- Former 49ers kicker Robbie Gould still wants to play for Bears
- 49ers bolster wide receiver room by grabbing Chris Conley
- 49ers news: Kerry Hyder is back to bolster defensive line depth
- Low-risk free agents 49ers can still target before NFL Draft
- 49ers aren’t talking to this free agent (but they should)
Former Green Bay Packers runner Eddie Lacy might garner a lot of attention, but it’s hard to see him landing anywhere else but back in Wisconsin. Yet San Francisco could target a change-of-pace back on a lower deal.
Perhaps someone like former Tampa Bay Buccaneers tailback Jacquizz Rodgers makes sense.
In reality, the only moves San Francisco probably makes at this position would be to fill out a 90-man roster and add competition for training camp. Perhaps a running back sticks, but that’s it.
For what it’s worth, Shanahan will need a fullback in his offense — something former head coach Chip Kelly didn’t use in 2016. Maybe the Niners bring over free-agent fullback Patrick DiMarco, who worked under Shanahan with the Atlanta Falcons last year.
Projected 2017 Depth Chart
Hyde remains No. 1. That’s an easy assessment to make.
Backing him up though…
More from Niner Noise
- 49ers 2023 NFL Draft tracker: Pick-by-pick news and analysis
- Predicting 49ers NFL Draft picks by looking at final mocks
- DraftKings NFL Draft Promo – Win $150 Guaranteed on Any $5 Bet
- 2023 NFL Draft: EDGE Byron Young could be impact player for 49ers
- 5 low-key NFL Draft options for 49ers who are flying under the radar
Davis is a long shot to make the 53-man roster, although he could wind up sticking around long enough into the preseason to finally turn the page. Still, the 49ers are almost guaranteed to take advantage of a relatively deep NFL Draft class at the position.
This means any move in free agency will be less than noteworthy — depth and competition at best.
Next: 10 Free Agents the 49ers Should Consider after Franchise Tags
Yet one already knows the importance of backing up Hyde this upcoming season. So it’s critical for San Francisco to pay attention to the need.