Peaking with one of the signature rushing performances in NFL playoff history, Raheem Mostert‘s 49ers career moved from special teams duty to starter work during the team’s NFC championship season in 2019. However, injuries largely limited the elusive back over the past two years.
But the 49ers still have Mostert on their radar. The team remains interested in re-signing the veteran back, according to his agent, who adds (via NBC Sports Bay Area’s Jennifer Lee Chan) he and the 49ers have held discussions. Mostert, 30 in April, is set for unrestricted free agency next month.
Mostert would be an interesting addition, given his rampant injury trouble since September 2020, but those setbacks would make the speedy back a low-cost signing. The 49ers used Mostert as their Week 1 starter in each of the past two years, but he missed 24 games in those seasons. Ankle and knee problems limited Mostert, who led the 2019 49ers with 772 rushing yards (5.6 per carry) and added 220 more in a four-touchdown showing against the Packers in that season’s NFC title game.
Following that season, Mostert and the 49ers went through some turbulence. The ex-special-teamer requested a trade after extension talks stalled. The sides ended up agreeing on a restructured deal in the summer of 2020, however.
Mostert’s latest knee issue led to him waiting for an organ donor before surgery could commence, Chan notes. The former UDFA went down in Week 1 in Detroit. Mostert’s return would almost certainly be contingent on a reduced role, if only to give him a better chance of making it through a season.
San Francisco shifted away from free agent backs this season, seeing Jerick McKinnon and Tevin Coleman‘s contracts come off their books. The 49ers relied on sixth-round rookie Elijah Mitchell, despite drafting Trey Sermon in Round 3, but saw Mitchell run into injury trouble at multiple points. Mitchell backup Jeff Wilson joins Mostert in being ticketed for free agency.
Shanahan can make random running backs successful in his scheme, so they don’t have to spend much on them, and everyone seems to know that but the 49ers, whether that’s paying McKinnon or trading up to draft Sermon. I like Mostert and will just about always pull for a UDFA, but if anyone should save their money, it’s them.
As a Niners fan… I agree wholeheartedly. Well said.
It isn’t just any random RB that excels in Kyle’s system. They have to be decisive one cut and go RBs, they don’t necessarily have to have the low 40 time, but initial burst is imperative, and it helps if they can catch out of the backfield as well keeping them on the field for 3 downs.
Believe it or not it’s a fairly specific style of RB that excels in this system…That’s why everyone who closely follows the system and the 49ers knew Mitchell was a slam dunk of a pick. I personally thought he’d take a year or two to see the field, but he was the perfect “type” of RB that I described earlier..
Where they typically get lost is in two areas: keeping their starters healthy and finding a compliment for their number one with a short yardage back. Sermon, Coleman, etc..
Mostert actually fits the system PERFECTLY, but will he be fully recovered and have his burst and speed back?? If his medicals check out, heck yeah he’s worth the gamble, he can’t demand very much at all…
Honestly, for Mostert, it is likely only Miami and McDaniel that’ll likely be as interested as the Kyle and the 49ers, so we shall see who wins out in the end..
raheem lost out on so much opportunity with his injuries the last two season, I hope he gives the niners the opportunity to do a 1 year deal to bet on himself and really show up and kick butt
Anything more than a 1 year deal would be a reach
the jet looked pretty good this year
Yeah this is why rumors of Christian McCaffrey come to SF is cray. Mostert is great when available. Both RBs have the same negative. I get it not the same upside. But I’d rather go committee. Keep all of them fresh as well by using 4 guys. Need to protect whoever our QB is with a good run game. Let Debo play WR as high a percentage as possible.
Raheem Must-start