Predicting 49ers’ running back depth chart with Tevin Coleman

With the San Francisco 49ers adding running back Tevin Coleman into the mix through NFL free agency, the depth chart is stacked with three capable pass-catchers out of the backfield.

With running back Matt Breida’s breakout 2018 season, along with the hopeful return of a healthy Jerick McKinnon, it was somewhat surprising when the San Francisco 49ers signed Atlanta Falcons’ running back Tevin Coleman upon the official start of NFL free agency.

Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Niners signed Coleman to a two-year, $10 million deal.

And while it’s not a huge contract to the former starter for the Falcons, it’s still an unexpected move given the depth the 49ers already have at the position.

However, San Francisco Chronicle’s Eric Branch brought up this point:

"The decision to add Coleman comes as McKinnon is recovering from the ACL tear he sustained just before the 2018 season opener. However, even before McKinnon went down last year, the 49ers’ tentative plan was to add to their backfield, in free agency or the draft, this offseason."

So, while many considered that the 49ers were set at running back, including myself, maybe from their point of view, this wasn’t the case.

The 49ers have several different options and choices to run with given the addition of Coleman. With all of McKinnon’s fully guaranteed money paid in his first year with the Niners, his salary for 2019 is $3.7 million which becomes guaranteed on the 1st of April.

While I don’t think it will happen, there is the possibility that the 49ers simply cut him and replace McKinnon with Coleman. They both have similar skill sets and, with the improvement of Breida, they may be happy to let McKinnon go. If released prior to April, they lose nothing. And if he was to be cut later, the cap hit is only $5.75 million.

The signing of Coleman may also just be a contingency plan if McKinnon is not healthy prior to the start of the regular season. While quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo’s recovery from his ACL tear has progressed quicker than expected, there has been little word on McKinnon’s progress other than he’s doing fine.

Due to the depleted running back depth chart last season from McKinnon’s ACL injury, along with Breida who dealt with an ankle injury for much of the year, head coach Kyle Shanahan could simply be adding more depth to the position. As running backs are more often than not prone to injury, Shanahan may just be stacking the chart in preparation for the inevitable injuries that will likely come.

NBC Sports’ 49ers insider Matt Maiocco is of the opinion that running back Raheem Mostert will be a lock as the team’s No. 3 back, given his special teams abilities. If this is the case, only two of the three remaining backs will be available for inclusion on the 46-man game day roster:

If this is the case, we could see a rotational roster. Similar to the start of the 2018 season which included running back Alfred Morris. Based from week-to-week and depending on who the 49ers are playing, Shanahan may rotate between Coleman, McKinnon and Breida depending on which players fit best into the scheme for that week.

Another possibility, which Niner Noise’s Akshaj Dwivedula brought up, would be to sacrifice one wide receiver, bringing five into the lineup on game day instead of the usual six that Shanahan has used previously. This would allow for three effective pass-catching backs to remain on the 46-man active roster.

Whatever happens, it’s intriguing to see how it all pans out. And with so many different outcomes and possibilities to deal with, I predict what the 49ers running back depth chart may look like coming into the new season. Based on the 49ers retaining both McKinnon and Coleman.