San Francisco 49ers: 5 players who could lose jobs after 2020 NFL Draft
By Peter Panacy
No. 5: 49ers running back Jeff Wilson
San Francisco might have cleared a bit of a logjam at running back by trading away Matt Breida to the Miami Dolphins in the middle of the draft.
But in a way, this group is even more crowded heading into 2020 than it was a year ago, thanks to the team inking two undrafted free agents, Salvon Ahmed and JaMycal Hasty, as well as the anticipated return of veteran tailback Jerick McKinnon from a two-year stint on injured reserve.
McKinnon is safe, as are runners Raheem Mostert and Tevin Coleman. But it’s unlikely head coach Kyle Shanahan keeps five running backs on his 53-man roster this season. Even four is often considered too many.
The additions of Ahmed and Hasty don’t spell good news for depth running back Jeff Wilson, who scantly saw the field in 2019.
When he did, though, he was impressive. Anyone who witnessed his game-winning touchdown grab against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 11 can attest to that.
Still, Wilson is in danger of being bested by either Ahmed or Hasty during training camp and the preseason, and there’s a stronger chance Shanahan will want to go with a youth movement here if one of those runners impresses enough.
That would make Wilson the odd man out.