With the major offseason roster-building opportunities in the rearview mirror, NFL analysts are taking stock of the changes made by all 32 clubs to position themselves for a successful 2024 campaign. The San Francisco 49ers revamped a number of position groups over the course of the last few months, bringing in experienced players to the defensive line, secondary and linebacker corps in free agency before adding a highly-touted wideout, offensive linemen and corner via the draft.
While there was no glaring need at running back, the team chose to add young talent to the group which is headed up by reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year, Christian McCaffrey. The 49ers traded up in the fourth round to select Louisville product Isaac Guerendo with the 129th-overall pick. Despite dealing with limited playing time in the first half of his college career, Guerendo closed out his final two college seasons with a total of 26 game appearances and impressed at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine by clinching the fastest 40-yard dash time (4.33 seconds) and best vertical (41.5 inches) amongst all running backs.
He, along with undrafted free agent, Cody Schrader, round out a room that includes McCaffrey, Elijah Mitchell, Jordan Mason, Patrick Taylor Jr. and fullback Kyle Juszczyk.
As CBS writer Tyler Sullivan stacked the running back rooms across the league, San Francisco's backfield emerged as the top-ranked crew, edging past his three other "thoroughbred" backfields of the Baltimore Ravens (second), Philadelphia Eagles (third) and Green Bay Packers (fourth) headed into the 2024 season. Running backs were separated into a total of several tiers ranging from "thoroughbreds" to "work in progress."
"Not only will you find stars in this tier, but what separates these teams is the depth behind their stars as well," Sullivan wrote. "While Christian McCaffrey is arguably the top back in the league, the 49ers also have capable backs like Elijah Mitchell, Jordan Mason and rookie Isaac Guerendo in their stable along with fullback Kyle Juszczyk."
