5 early contenders for SF 49ers first pick in 2021 NFL Draft
By Peter Panacy
SF 49ers Contender No. 3: Running Back Najee Harris, Alabama
player. 829. . Running Back. Crimson Tide . Najee Harris. 3
Kyle Shanahan and the SF 49ers don’t have the reputation for using high NFL Draft picks on running backs, and that trend is disappearing from most teams’ draft plans anyway.
That said, especially if the Niners can somehow trade down from No. 12 overall, it’s hard not to envision someone like Alabama running back Najee Harris fitting in well with Shanahan’s offense.
It isn’t as if Shanahan lacks value for the position. After all, San Francisco spent considerable free-agent money on veteran tailbacks Jerick McKinnon and Tevin Coleman in recent years, and both are pending free agents again in 2021, leaving only runners like Raheem Mostert, Jeff Wilson (a restricted free agent) and JaMycal Hasty under team control.
All three of those names suffered significant injuries last season, and Shanahan hasn’t had a true bell cow-type rusher since taking over duties in 2017.
A player like Harris could change that.
Harris’ exceptional effort in the championship game against Ohio State was second only to wide receiver DeVonta Smith, as the former netted 158 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns, showcasing his value as a dual-threat weapon and being equally as impressive with both strength, elusiveness and speed.
Before that game, Harris was likely going to plateau as a mid-Round 2 pick.
After Alabama’s championship victory, however, it wouldn’t be shocking to see a team like the SF 49ers get greedy with a potential game-changing tailback in Round 1.