49ers draft RB Elijah Mitchell, Louisiana-Lafayette, at No. 194 overall
Two things knock the value down for San Francisco’s final pick of the 2021 NFL Draft, Louisiana running back Elijah Mitchell, at No. 194 overall.
For starters, the 49ers already invested highly in Trey Sermon earlier. And second, Mitchell was likely going to be a seventh-round pick or even a priority undrafted free agent.
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Perhaps the Niners reached a bit, yes. And that’s why the Mitchell pick doesn’t generate an A-grade.
That said, Mitchell could be far more explosive and exciting than Sermon.
Mitchell has the speed factor, running a 4.38 40-yard time during his pro day. And while the competition he faced while at Louisiana wasn’t exactly top notch, Mitchell’s 3,864 all-purpose yards, which included 597 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns, speaks to his dual-threat potential.
It’ll be tough, at least initially, for Mitchell to get touches. Particularly with Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson Jr. already on the roster, while Sermon commands the higher investment.
Yet Mitchell could be the most purely thrilling of all San Francisco’s running backs, provided he’s able to use his speed and dual-threat abilities in a way to not just fit in with Kyle Shanahan’s offense but also to make it operate at an even higher level.
There are plenty of reasons to be excited about this pickup.