The San Francisco 49ers ran through seemingly countless running backs during the 2024 season. In reality, four different backs started for the Niners in 2024 and several of them sustained season-ending injuries.
It is for that reason why the 49ers must do all they can to bring back their top rusher from 2024, Jordan Mason.
Mason seemed likely to be the team’s primary backup going into the year after Elijah Mitchell, the backup to Christian McCaffrey in 2023, suffered a season-ending injury before the preseason began.
Ultimately, after McCaffrey was unable to start the season opener against the New York Jets in Week 1, Mason was thrust into the starting role and did remarkably well. He was one of the leading rushers in the league through the first eight weeks of the season and ended the year with 789 rushing yards on 153 rushing attempts in 12 games. He was San Francisco's leading rusher for the season.
The undrafted third-year player out of Georgia Tech proved himself to be a very effective rusher even though he, too, struggled with injuries and ultimately ended the season on injured reserve. However, Mason is now a restricted free agent, and one imagines there will be plenty of teams interested in him after his strong 2024.
Nonetheless, the 49ers should still try for a reunion with Mason. 2024 proved that a team can never have too much depth at running back. Even though some say head coach Kyle Shanahan can stick anyone in the backfield and he’ll be an effective rusher, it truy does make a difference when the team has strong running backs.
Plus, with McCaffrey getting older and having a lengthy injury history in his career, it would be wise for San Francisco to retain a strong back up like Mason.
If another team does end up stealing him, the 49ers still have Isaac Guerendo who liked very strong as well in his rookie campaign filling in for the injured McCaffrey and Mason.
Having depth is of the utmost importance for a team with a core group of veterans like the 49ers. In order to ensure the team can contend and still win games while missing key pieces like McCaffrey, they need to make a concerted effort to bring back Mason.