49ers NFL Draft 2021: Predicting each rookie’s role, spot on depth chart
By Peter Panacy
Trey Sermon. 3. player. 812. . Running Back. Buckeyes
No. 3: 49ers RB Trey Sermon
It might have been a bit of a reach and a luxury pick for the Niners to grab Ohio State running back Trey Sermon in Round 3, especially after passing on those other areas of need (cornerback and EDGE) in the second round by drafting Aaron Banks.
Plus, Kyle Shanahan and running backs coach Bobby Turner have generally avoided using early picks on running backs anyway.
Despite all that, San Francisco has both depth and long-term questions at the position, namely with Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson Jr. both free agents in 2022 and coming off serious injuries suffered a year ago.
So, if there was a time to infuse some young talent on a rookie contract, it was now. And if any rusher could find tremendous success in Shanahan’s offense, it’s the bruising-type of a player like Sermon, who’ll excel in outside-zone runs when matched up against outside defensive backs.
Mostert, Wilson and the sixth-round running back added, Elijah Mitchell, all figure to jockey for carries this year. And the true definition of a “starting” running back in Shanahan’s offense is an odd one regardless, since the player who’s on the field first and receives an initial carry isn’t always the one who finishes with the most touches.
For now, though, look for Sermon to be slotted a bit deeper down the depth chart.