3 pending free agents 49ers won’t bring back in 2022

No. 1: 49ers Running Back Raheem Mostert

In comparison to Jaquiski Tartt and Laken Tomlinson, veteran running back Raheem Mostert is somewhere in between both of those other two contexts.

Also a free agent in 2022, it’s important to note Mostert will turn 30 years old by the time next season starts — the age when most tailbacks are thinking about calling it a career. And while the fact Mostert wasn’t exactly a featured rusher for the first half of his career, a recent bout with injury concerns can call into question whether or not the 49ers will entertain re-signing him.

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He did miss eight games last year with a multitude of injuries, after all.

That alone could be a reason why Mostert doesn’t re-sign. But just as is the case with Tomlinson, some of the Niners’ offseason moves don’t spell good news for Mostert’s long-term future.

In Round 3 of this year’s NFL Draft, San Francisco grabbed a player who’ll likely be Mostert’s heir apparent as RB1 on the depth chart, Trey Sermon, then added someone in Round 6 with Mostert-like home-run speed, Elijah Mitchell.

Just like Talanoa Hufanga, it’s too soon to automatically pencil in either Sermon or Mitchell as long-term replacements, but it does give a bit of an indication the 49ers aren’t gearing towards keeping an aging, oft-injured running back beyond this upcoming season.

Look for Mostert to be playing elsewhere in 2022.