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5 Reasons why the 49ers won’t release running back Carlos Hyde

By Peter Panacy

Oct 2, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Carlos Hyde (28) warms up prior to the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 2, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Carlos Hyde (28) warms up prior to the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 2, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Carlos Hyde (28) warms up prior to the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 2, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Carlos Hyde (28) warms up prior to the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 5: Carlos Hyde’s Age and the 49ers’ Long-Term Plans

Carlos Hyde will turn 27 years old this September. If one buys into the notion most running backs’ levels of effectiveness are best felt before 30 years old, Hyde should still have at least three more seasons of adequate production at the NFL level.

Hyde may never be on par with the guy he replaced, former 49ers great Frank Gore. Yet he’d be worth keeping on the roster this first season under Kyle Shanahan and Co.

Maybe even a bit longer.

San Francisco has made drastic changes this offseason, including changing out over 50 percent of the roster from last February. Yet these are only the initial steps of what promises to be a long rebuilding process that may take years.

The NFL’s parity is such that a 2-14 can turn into a playoff contender in quick order. Just look at the Tennessee Titans, who posted such a record in 2014 and appear to be a sleeper favorite this upcoming season.

If we use that model, perhaps the Niners are playoff worthy in 2019. Hyde would turn 29 years old then and still have a little to offer.

So keeping him around these two upcoming seasons would keep newly added runners’, like Joe Williams, legs fresh for when San Francisco is ready to make a serious playoff push.