49ers shouldn’t waste more time on Tyrion Davis-Price after 2022

The 49ers have already built up a strong running back room entering 2023, and that doesn’t need to include last year’s disappointment, Tyrion Davis-Price.

2022 rookie running back Tyrion Davis-Price is a classic example of a team’s questionable selection in an NFL Draft.

The initial gut reaction when the San Francisco 49ers selected him in Round 3 was that the former LSU standout was a reach, and the Niners had more pressing needs elsewhere on the roster anyway.

But, as is usually the case with reaches and questionable picks, fans and analysts alike will talk themselves into accepting the pick, perhaps even loving it (we did it, too).

Only to be let down.

Well, Davis-Price fell into that category and then some, finishing his rookie season with a mere 34 rushes for 99 yards, averaging just 2.9 yards per carry.

Putting things into perspective, those numbers are less than the Niners’ previous third-round running back, Trey Sermon, who managed 167 rush yards during his rookie campaign in 2021 before failing to make San Francisco’s roster in year two.

Is Davis-Price going to suffer a similar fate? Well, he probably should.

49ers shouldn’t spend more time developing Tyrion Davis-Price

Davis-Price did suffer a high-ankle sprain early in the year, but his inability to contribute much on special teams and nearly zero impact as a receiving weapon out the backfield meant his snaps were going to be limited.

Even after the 49ers lost fellow tailback Elijah Mitchell to injuries, Davis-Price was already being outclassed by a fellow rookie, the undrafted Jordan Mason, who managed 258 yards rushing and averaged 6 yards per carry.

If the Niners had to choose between the two heading into 2023, it’s pretty obvious.

Read More: 5 Niners players who didn’t live up to expectations in 2022

San Francisco’s depth chart won’t have much room for Davis-Price anyway. Not with Mason emerging as a solid change-of-pace tailback, and certainly not in the wake of the 49ers’ blockbuster deal for All-Pro runner Christian McCaffrey prior to last year’s trade deadline.

Mixing in Mitchell, and the only reason Davis-Price would need to make his presence known would be to add depth during training camp and the preseason.

There’s a very good chance Davis-Price takes a similar path as Sermon and winds up finding himself off the team after being drafted in Round 3.

Maybe the Niners won’t take any other running backs in the third round, too.