Niner Noise
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5 49ers players with a lot to prove in 2019 regular season

By Peter Panacy

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - AUGUST 27: Rashod Hill #69 of the Minnesota Vikings blocks Solomon Thomas #94 of the San Francisco 49ers in the preseason game on August 27, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the 49ers 32-31. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - AUGUST 27: Rashod Hill #69 of the Minnesota Vikings blocks Solomon Thomas #94 of the San Francisco 49ers in the preseason game on August 27, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the 49ers 32-31. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – OCTOBER 9: Jerick McKinnon #21 of the Minnesota Vikings celebrates during the first quarter of the game on October 9, 2016 at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – OCTOBER 9: Jerick McKinnon #21 of the Minnesota Vikings celebrates during the first quarter of the game on October 9, 2016 at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

No. 4: Running Back Jerick McKinnon

It’s hard to put running back Jerick McKinnon on this list, especially considering he hasn’t even taken one regular-season snap for the 49ers after signing a four-year free-agent deal last season.

San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers /

San Francisco 49ers

McKinnon was one of the priority targets for head coach Kyle Shanahan a year ago, and the former’s ACL tear at the end of the preseason threw off Shanahan’s plans for the offense. Yet that injury also opened up the door for fellow tailback Matt Breida to become a major factor, finishing 2018 with the league’s fourth best yards-per-carry average (5.3).

Breida isn’t going anywhere, especially considering his team-friendly contract for an undrafted free agent from 2017. And neither is special teams ace Raheem Mostert, who just inked a three-year extension.

If that was the depth chart, McKinnon’s chances for sticking around would be just fine. Yet the addition of Shanahan’s complementary pass-catching running back with the Atlanta Falcons, Tevin Coleman, things get a bit more interesting.

Both McKinnon and Coleman have similar skill sets. And while it’s now a crowded backfield on this side of the ball, Shanahan will likely keep four runners on his regular-season roster.

Beyond 2019, though, it’s another question mark.

San Francisco can move on from McKinnon in 2020 with a cap savings of $4.8 million, and his guarantee that year won’t go into effect until April 1. If McKinnon winds up being the odd player out, underperforming and losing his role, it wouldn’t be at all shocking to see the Niners move on a year from now.