49ers: 3 sleeper targets for Round 2 pick in 2021 NFL Draft
By Peter Panacy
3. player. 829. . Running Back. Crimson Tide . Najee Harris
49ers Sleeper No. 3: Running Back Najee Harris, Alabama
On the surface, the Niners going after a running back early wouldn’t make sense, and it especially wouldn’t make sense for San Francisco to target Alabama running back Najee Harris in Round 1.
For starters, the 49ers already have runners like Raheem Mostert, Jeff Wilson Jr. and JaMycal Hasty on the roster. But those three are signed only through 2021, and Mostert will turn 29 years old this offseason anyway. It might be time the Niners start thinking about long-term options.
The dual-threat Harris would be an ideal fit in head coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense, yes. Harris’ abilities as a backfield pass-catcher and an elusive, speedy runner would be fun to watch in San Francisco’s outside-zone scheme.
| Rushing | Receiving | Scrimmage | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | School | Conf | Class | Pos | G | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | Plays | Yds | Avg | TD |
| *2017 | Alabama | SEC | FR | RB | 10 | 61 | 370 | 6.1 | 3 | 6 | 45 | 7.5 | 0 | 67 | 415 | 6.2 | 3 |
| *2018 | Alabama | SEC | SO | RB | 15 | 117 | 783 | 6.7 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 1.8 | 0 | 121 | 790 | 6.5 | 4 |
| *2019 | Alabama | SEC | JR | RB | 13 | 209 | 1224 | 5.9 | 13 | 27 | 304 | 11.3 | 7 | 236 | 1528 | 6.5 | 20 |
| *2020 | Alabama | SEC | SR | RB | 13 | 251 | 1466 | 5.8 | 26 | 43 | 425 | 9.9 | 4 | 294 | 1891 | 6.4 | 30 |
| Career | Alabama | 638 | 3843 | 6.0 | 46 | 80 | 781 | 9.8 | 11 | 718 | 4624 | 6.4 | 57 |
Provided by CFB at Sports Reference
Generated 4/5/2021.
But Shanahan would have to buck his trend of waiting until the later rounds or even after the draft to grab a running back.
In the case of Harris, though, it might be worth it if he falls into Round 2.
The recent NFL tendency to sit on Round 1-caliber running backs until later in the draft could affect Harris’ draft stock. While there’s little doubting his first-round talent, it’s becoming more common to see such players slip into the second round. A year ago, the Baltimore Ravens landed Ohio State running back J.K. Dobbins, widely viewed as a top-tier halfback prospect, at No. 55 overall. Despite the Ravens already being loaded at the position, grabbing Dobbins there was too good an opportunity to pass up.
Should Harris be available when the 49ers’ number is called in Round 2, it wouldn’t be shocking to see Shanahan pull the trigger.