5 key takeaways from 49ers cuts and initial 2021 roster

Takeaway No. 3: Youth movement in 49ers running back room

Yes, there’s the obvious exception here: Starting running back Raheem Mostert is 29 years old and is effectively the elder statesman within the offensive backfield.

Yet the Niners appear to be relying on Kyle Shanahan and running backs coach Bobby Turner’s ability to identify and then develop younger running backs into key contributors.

This was made apparent by the players named to San Francisco’s 53-man roster:

1. Raheem Mostert
2. Trey Sermon*
3. JaMycal Hasty
4. Elijah Mitchell*

* denotes rookie

Sermon, a Round 3 draft pick, essentially had a spot guaranteed. But the other two spots were very much in the air, eventually going to Mitchell, a sixth-round selection who missed but one preseason game, and Hasty, the second-year pro who flashed more than enough to secure a spot.

All this came at the expense of soon-to-be 27-year-old veteran Wayne Gallman, who was more than serviceable during the preseason and offered plenty of upside in pass protection.

But rather than go with the one-year offseason free-agent add on the older side of things, the 49ers are choosing to go with up-and-coming youth.