San Francisco 49ers: Pros & Cons for re-signing Carlos Hyde this offseason
By Peter Panacy
Pros for the 49ers Re-Signing Carlos Hyde
With little question, Carlos Hyde is the best offensive weapon the 49ers have right now. And any doubts of that went out the window when No. 1 wide receiver Pierre Garçon was lost for the season with a neck injury back in Week 8.
The naysayers and stat geeks will tell you Hyde has been injury prone and not truly productive. The former second-round pick has yet to crest 1,000 yards rushing over his four-year career.
While that’s important to address, it’s equally important to recognize Hyde’s strengths and future fit.
The Prime of Carlos Hyde’s Career
If we accept the notion most running backs slough off around 30 years old, the 27-year-old Hyde is right at the point where the 49ers can get the most production out of him.
As noted earlier, the Niners need not worry about cap implications. Not yet, at least. So re-signing him would be an indication Hyde would be giving San Francisco his best seasons as a pro.
In addition, and perhaps more importantly, re-signing Hyde would cross one item off the list of many San Francisco needs this offseason. Instead of using a coveted pick in the 2018 NFL Draft to find Hyde’s would-be replacement, the Niners can spend that selection to address something else more crucial.
A Fit in Kyle Shanahan’s Offense
There were questions earlier this offseason whether or not Hyde would fit into head coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense.
Some of these may still persist, but let’s examine one factor — the receiving game. Shanahan’s offense frequently uses running backs as receivers, and Hyde’s pass-catching numbers this year have already set a career mark:
| Game | Game | Rece | Rece | Rece | Rece | Rece | Rece | Rece | Rece | Rece | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Age | G | GS | Tgt | Rec | Yds | Y/R | TD | Lng | R/G | Y/G | Ctch% |
| 2014 | 24 | 14 | 0 | 16 | 12 | 68 | 5.7 | 0 | 16 | 0.9 | 4.9 | 75.0% |
| 2015 | 25 | 7 | 7 | 15 | 11 | 53 | 4.8 | 0 | 11 | 1.6 | 7.6 | 73.3% |
| 2016 | 26 | 13 | 13 | 33 | 27 | 163 | 6.0 | 3 | 19 | 2.1 | 12.5 | 81.8% |
| 2017 | 27 | 10 | 10 | 60 | 42 | 274 | 6.5 | 0 | 18 | 4.2 | 27.4 | 70.0% |
| Care | Care | 44 | 30 | 124 | 92 | 558 | 6.1 | 3 | 19 | 2.1 | 12.7 |
Provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 11/18/2017.
Interestingly enough, Hyde’s 42 receptions actually lead the 49ers offense. And while the average rushing yards per game (59.2) are down from last year (76.0), his 866 all-purpose yards are easily on pace to best the 1,151 total yards he had a season ago.
All that matters is getting the ball down the field. Not how teams go about doing it.
Oh, If the 49ers Had an Offensive Line
A year ago, the Niners boasted the league’s worst run-blocking offensive line, per Football Outsiders. This year, that ranking is up to 14th — respectable but not terrific.
Before the season began, Fourth and Nine’s Dylan DeSimone broke down why Hyde’s numbers — and likely his injury history — had a lot to do with the O-line problems.
DeSimone wrote:
"The 49ers’ back is actually doing much, much more than meets the eye. Once he’s handed the ball, he first has to spin, juke or break out of a tackle behind the line of scrimmage before making his read and charging up field. For his entire pro career to date, he’s had to work around the offensive line, rather than jive with it. The only positive is that it’s resulted in him building a callous and reputation as a tough tackle."
Assuming the Niners make some serious O-line upgrades this offseason, Hyde may put up the kind of numbers reminiscent of the Dallas Cowboys’ Ezekiel Elliott a year ago — using a top-tier O-line to his own benefit.
If this is the case, the 49ers would truly see the kind of player Hyde could become.
Even so, there are arguments against bringing the talented tailback back in 2018. Let’s dive into those.