What each 49ers 2021 draftee must do to make 2022 roster

Round 6: 49ers RB Elijah Mitchell — stay healthy

Staying healthy might be a given for players like Talanoa Hufanga. But it’s a legitimate concern for Elijah Mitchell.

Mitchell is arguably the latest great example of the Niners finding late-round gems in the NFL Draft. A sixth-round pick out of Louisiana, the speedy Mitchell impressed during training camp and became the de facto starter once Raheem Mostert was lost to injury, effectively relegating fellow rookie Trey Sermon to the back end of the depth chart.

By the time the regular season was done, Mitchell set a franchise record for a rookie, rushing for 963 yards over 11 games played.

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That’s both exciting and concerning, though. Expanded over a full 17-game season, Mitchell’s splits would have equated out to 1,488 rush yards. Yet multiple injuries kept Mitchell from reaching this lofty accolade last season, as he missed six games and could easily be seen as another injury risk entering 2022.

Provided Mitchell stays healthy, there’s no doubting he’ll survive the cut. Sermon will likely be there, and Tyrion Davis-Price might take some of each week’s early carries away from the former.

But Mitchell will likely still be the guy when it comes to the bulk of duties on the ground.

As long as he doesn’t suffer a serious injury.