As the San Francisco 49ers head toward exercising some cash frugality this offseason, trades beyond the recent move to send Deebo Samuel to the Washington Commanders are surely on the radar somewhere.
One such player has garnered a lot of buzz is running back Jordan Mason.
Mason is a restricted free agent, so the Niners have that contractual control over him. But reports suggest he'll get a second-round tender rather than be non-tendered, which would lock in him at a $5.3 million salary for 2025. It would also allow the 49ers to get something back for him, if that's the direction they choose to go.
Matthew Berry of NBC Sports, ESPN's Adam Schefter and Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer have all mentioned Mason as a trade candidate, with Berry noting based on what he heard at the NFL Combine there have been "a lot of trade inquiries" about the former undrafted rusher.
There is history of the 49ers making a move just like that. In 2020, the gave running back Matt Breida a second-round RFA tender. Nine days later, they traded him to the Miami Dolphins.
Mason capably filled in for an injured Christian McCaffrey last season, rushing for 789 yards while averaging 5.2 yards per carry. The former's own season ended early due to an ankle injury. So he is an asset, and it seems the 49ers are ready to move him and choose Isaac Guerendo to be McCaffrey's primary backup.
At minimum, Mason will fetch an extra draft pick in a trade as the 49ers look to get younger and cheaper across the roster.
Here are five teams that could make an offer that can't be refused.
5 teams who could trade for 49ers running back Jordan Mason
5. Dallas Cowboys
Dallas' move to bring Ezekiel Elliott back last offseason worked out just as expected, and there's a case for them to make free-agent pickup Javonte Williams their RB1 next season (and moving forward). But Mason would seem to be in their wheelhouse as an inexpensive way to fill out their running back depth chart.
4. Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders are lined up to overturn their 2024 running back room, with all kinds of options to do so (sign Najee Harris?, draft Ashton Jeanty?). Mason would also be a viable and affordable option, depending on what the new regime's plans are as they move toward the run-heavy offensive philosophy head coach Pete Carroll favors. Similarly to how they approached their quarterback situation before acquiring Geno Smith, all options should also be on the table for Las Vegas at running back right now.
3. Los Angeles Chargers
The Jim Harbaugh-led Chargers feel likely to always be somewhere in the market for a running back. J.K. Dobbins could easily land elsewhere in free agency, and Gus Edwards will be released as the start of new league year. 2024 sixth-round pick Kimani Vidal does not fit the physical profile of an every down back, while Mason does and would be a nice complement as his game tilts toward physical running.
2. Denver Broncos
The Broncos let Javonte Williams leave as a free agent, and just how much faith Sean Payton has in the remaining options (Jaleel McLaughlin, Audric Estime, etc.) is an open question. So they are in line to make a move to add a running back, and Mason easily lands as a pretty good option.
If Mason has untapped potential as a pass catcher, and it's fair to think he does, maybe Payton's offensive system is the place he can realize it.
1. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers are all but certain to let the aforementioned Najee Harris leave in free agency, which would leave them with restricted free agent Jaylen Warren and little else behind him on the depth chart. Mason could be an ideal "Thunder" to Warren's "Lightning" in a similar backfield split to what they did with Harris and Warren, and the kind of workload division offensive coordinator Arthur Smith seems to prefer.