Jimmy Garoppolo, 3 others 49ers should have on trade block

49ers trade-block player No. 1: Trey Sermon

Shortly after the 2021 NFL Draft, few thought it would be sixth-round rookie Elijah Mitchell vastly outpacing the Round 3 selection, Trey Sermon, at running back.

Yet that’s precisely what happened, as Mitchell set a franchise record for a first-year pro with 963 rush yards. Meanwhile, Sermon’s rookie campaign led to a frustrating 167 rush yards and late-season inactive designations.

Entering 2022, it sure looks as if San Francisco has lost a lot of faith in Sermon rebounding, as it grabbed another running back in Round 3 of this year’s draft, Tyrion Davis-Price. With the former LSU tailback and Mitchell now both in the mix for touches, along with depth runners like Jeff Wilson Jr., JaMycal Hasty and Jordan Mason, Sermon’s future doesn’t look great.

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Mason is a player to watch, though. The 2022 undrafted free agent shined during offseason workouts thus far, and he could easily push one of the lower-ranked halfbacks off what’s turning into a crowded depth chart.

Why not just clear the logjam outright?

Sermon still has plenty of collegiate-level prowess to influence his stock value. And while the 49ers would likely be taking a loss on investment if they trade him, they’d avoid the risk of having to lose a player like Mason to the waiver wire.