These 49ers youngsters could steal roster spots from established veterans
Where might youth win out? Let's find out.
By John Porter
Isaac Guerendo and Cody Schrader over Elijah Mitchell/Jordan Mason
This one starts out as more of a playing time battle than a roster one, since one would expect rookie running back Isaac Guerendo to easily make the roster, given the 49ers traded up in the fourth round of the NFL Draft to get him.
Guerendo's unique speed, not dissimilar to former running back Raheem Mostert, as well as the relative lack of tyre tread from his college career, should easily give him an inside path to the roster.
Outside of him, the undrafted Cody Schrader joins the team with immense hype, particularly having led the SEC in rushing last year. He tested well, athletically, and his production suggests he could at least become an NFL player. The 49ers aren't adverse to keeping UDFA running backs either. He'll be hoping to follow the likes of Jordan Mason, and previously, Jeff Wilson by playing too well, despite his lowly status, to be ignored.
If both Guerendo and Schrader prove to be NFL-capable, then the players who should be extremely concerned, at least about their chances of staying on the 49ers rather than in the NFL, are Mason and Elijah Mitchell.
They're both clearly NFL running backs, but given that Mitchell has missed eight games in the last two years, and Mason is only largely used as a power back, it could be that the possibility to go more cost-effective on the salary cap in what is a seldom-used role behind phenom running back Christian McCaffrey could spell the end for their time in San Francisco.