49ers NFL Draft: Grading rookie class halfway through 2021
By Peter Panacy
49ers Round 3 Pick: Running Back Trey Sermon
Either the 49ers completely whiffed on the third-round selection of Ohio State running back Trey Sermon, or they’re totally mismanaging him halfway through his rookie year.
Perhaps a bit of both, which is a bit troubling considering the team traded two fourth-round picks to move up and grab him at No. 88 overall.
Kyle Shanahan recently told reporters sixth-round rookie Elijah Mitchell easily beat out Sermon on the depth chart, which makes sense given the sheer number of touches Mitchell has had this season so far.
But Mitchell has also been injured, following veteran rusher Raheem Mostert, who’s shelved on season-ending injured reserve.
One might have thought this would lead to an increased role for Sermon, who managed 89 yards on 19 carries against the Seattle Seahawks way back in Week 4. But against the Cardinals in Week 5, Sermon had just one carry. Then zero in Weeks 7 and 8 against the Indianapolis Colts and Chicago Bears, respectively, before being a healthy scratch in Week 9 after the Niners reverted veteran tailback Jeff Wilson Jr. off the reserve/physically unable-to-perform list.
Sermon is the clear-cut No. 4 halfback on a four-man depth chart, which isn’t a good place to be and a failed allocation of a third-round draft pick.