No. 1: 49ers Running Back Jeff Wilson
Much like Ross Dwelley, running back Jeff Wilson both contributed with a touchdown in a key win over the Cardinals last year and also could find himself a victim of the numbers game after training camp.
More from SF 49ers News
- DraftKings NFL Draft Promo – Win $150 Guaranteed on Any $5 Bet
- Updated 49ers salary cap space ahead of 2023 NFL Draft
- Deebo Samuel fully admits his hatred of LA Rams
- Brock Purdy jokingly says he’s learning to throw left-handed
- 49ers news: Trey Lance is in the dark regarding trade talk
Wilson, who was essentially San Francisco’s No. 4 running back behind Matt Breida, Tevin Coleman and Raheem Mostert, certainly made the most of his limited opportunities, including that game-winning catch versus Arizona. But heading into 2020, the 49ers’ crop of tailbacks is even more crowded than it was a year ago.
Breida is gone, yes. But his absence is offset by the healthy return of running back Jerick McKinnon, who’ll return from a two-year injury absence. If there weren’t any other bodies in the mix, Wilson would stand a chance. But he also has to compete against two rookies with plenty of upside, Washington’s Salvon Ahmed and Baylor’s JaMycal Hasty.
Ahmed and Hasty are both undrafted free agents, so their respective paths to the 53-man roster are anything but guaranteed. Yet each offers up a unique aspect to Kyle Shanahan, and it wouldn’t be a big shock if one/both of those two first-year players wind up outshining Wilson by the slimmest of margins during camp.
If so, the 49ers may have no other option but to move on from Wilson before Week 1.
And that’ll certainly be a tough choice when considering all that Wilson offered to San Francisco the past two seasons.