49ers roster: Predicting running back depth chart with Wayne Gallman
By Peter Panacy
Biggest offseason questions facing 49ers at running back
Wayne Gallman should be a quality addition for San Francisco. He cut down on the fumbling issues he had earlier in his career. And at 26 years old, he’s notably younger and fresher than the 49ers’ top running back, Raheem Mostert.
Yet there are still some question marks Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers have to consider and address between now and Week 1.
Will 49ers add another RB in the NFL Draft?
Shanahan and running backs coach Bobby Turner have a long history of finding late-round NFL Draft gems or even undrafted free agents, then developing them into quality players.
With five selections on day three of this year’s draft, it wouldn’t be shocking to see the Niners add another running back to boost the competition and potentially shake up the depth chart even more.
No RB is signed beyond 2021
Mostert and Jeff Wilson are both unrestricted free agents in 2022, and Gallman was brought in solely on a one-year deal. True, San Francisco has a bit more control over both Austin Walter and JaMycal Hasty, who are both scheduled to be exclusive-rights free agents a year from now.
But one might figure a top-quality tailback could be a notable priority for the 49ers sooner than later.
Are 49ers confident in JaMycal Hasty’s health?
Hasty garnered plenty of attention after being picked up as an undrafted free agent last year. He, too, impressed in limited fashion when given the chance, and there was an argument the scatback might carve out a role not unlike what Jerick McKinnon was intended to have last year as a dual-threat third-down running back.
Yet Hasty suffered a torn ACL in Week 10 against the New Orleans Saints. There hasn’t been much on his recovery, so it’s awfully difficult to gauge whether or not he’ll be ready by the time the regular season begins.
And perhaps not even on the Week 1 roster.