At the NFL's annual meetings, Kyle Shanahan of the San Francisco 49ers took the stage, echoing some of the sentiments shared by GM John Lynch. A key topic was the team's running back strategy, particularly the need to ease the load on Christian McCaffrey.
McCaffrey had an outstanding season, racking up over 2,100 yards from scrimmage across all 17 games. Yet, Shanahan recognizes that repeating a season with over 400 touches might not be sustainable for McCaffrey, despite his MVP-level performance. Shanahan praised McCaffrey's impact, especially in the passing game, but stressed the importance of finding support for him next season.
Shanahan remarked, “Christian had an unbelievable year, but he definitely needs help. I don’t want Christian to have to take all that.
It’s amazing what he did. So hard to get Christian out is because how much he affects the pass game.”
Looking ahead, the 49ers might use one of their fourth-round picks on a running back, continuing their tradition of drafting backs on Day 3. Jordan James, a fifth-round pick from the 2025 draft, and Isaac Guerendo, a fourth-rounder from 2024, are both in the mix. However, Guerendo's limited playtime last year suggests the team might be looking for additional contributors.
Shanahan emphasized the need for depth: “The reason it’s so hard to get Christian out is because of how much he affects everything in the pass game, even when he’s not getting the ball… But in order for us to be the running team we want to be, in order to have Christian be as good as he can be throughout the whole year, we’ve got to get someone to help him.”
Guerendo and James bring size to the table, both weighing over 200 pounds, but their different profiles suggest varied roles. Guerendo’s athleticism stands out, while James’ numbers are more modest.
One intriguing prospect is Penn State’s Nick Singleton. Despite a setback with a broken foot at the Senior Bowl, Singleton’s impressive athletic profile, including a 4.35 40-yard dash and significant bench press numbers, makes him a potential asset. His experience as a pass catcher and a strong freshman year, where he ran for over 1,000 yards, highlight his potential to relieve some of McCaffrey’s workload.
Shanahan made it clear that the goal is to reduce the "wear and tear" on McCaffrey. Singleton’s combination of experience and physicality could make him a valuable addition to the 49ers, as they aim to maintain McCaffrey’s effectiveness throughout the season.