5 possible trade destinations for 49ers RB Raheem Mostert
By Peter Panacy
The 49ers don’t have to budge with Raheem Mostert. But if they want to sell high, these five teams could be trade partners.
On Wednesday, San Francisco 49ers running back Raheem Mostert‘s agent, Brett Tessler, broke news his client was requesting a trade after “months of unproductive talks.”
This was quite the shock, especially after Mostert broke onto the scene late in 2019 after a relatively obscure career which included playing for five different teams, almost entirely on special teams, between 2015 and 2017 before finding what was thought to be a permanent home with San Francisco.
Mostert’s ascent late in the regular season and during the Niners’ 2020 playoff run turned him into an overnight hero, and he apparently wants to be paid like one. In fairness, his 772 rush yards led all 49ers tailbacks last season, yet he’s third in the financial pecking order behind fellow tailbacks Tevin Coleman and Jerick McKinnon, the latter not having yet suiting up for San Francisco since suffering a torn ACL in 2018.
The 49ers don’t have to do anything with this if they don’t want to. They hold all the cards and don’t need to set a precedent for players asking for demands with two years left on their contracts.
But let’s assume the Niners want to sell high on Mostert’s recent success. Who would potential suitors be?
Here are five with whom San Francisco could possibly consider a trade.
49ers Trade Partner No. 5: Los Angeles Chargers
There’s no supplanting Los Angeles Chargers running back Austin Ekeler on the depth chart, but the Chargers have some depth questions behind the 2019 standout.
Third-year pro Justin Jackson has been banged up the better part of the last two years, and Los Angeles shouldn’t count on his health. Meanwhile, 2020 fourth-round pick Joshua Kelley looks more like a third-down bruising back than anything else.
A pure speed threat would help L.A.’s offense a lot, considering they’re rolling either with a veteran backup at quarterback, Tyrod Taylor, or a rookie in Oregon’s Justin Herbert.
As such, finding a dynamic pairing of running backs, namely by adding a player like Mostert, would give the Chargers some much needed speed and thump.
The 49ers, meanwhile, wouldn’t have to worry about trading within their own conference, let alone division.