49ers NFL Draft: Ranking each rookie by projected 2021 impact

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Elijah Mitchell, Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns

Elijah Mitchell #15 of the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin Cajuns (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) /

49ers Rookie No. 3: Elijah Mitchell, Running Back

Elijah Mitchell? The very last pick of the 49ers draft where he isn’t even the only running back in the class?

Well, there are two things here in Mitchell’s favor. One is the always evolving platoon system that allows running backs that impress to get easily bigger roles. We’ve seen special teams free agents (Raheem Mostert) and undrafted free agents (Jeff Wilson, JaMycal Hasty) force their way into the rotation, and the blistering speed of Mitchell makes him a home-run chance whenever he touches the ball.

On that mold, the reason he’s so significantly high is the kick-returner situation. The Niners are fair at best with returning the ball, and Mitchell is probably the fastest player on the team even as a rookie.

If he wins the returner job, he could be one of the few rookies who actually starts in Week 1.

And, yes, kick returner counts as a starting role.