The San Francisco 49ers are a team that can really use some quality running back depth.
Christian McCaffrey is still a star RB, but as last season showed, when he gets hurt, things can get rough for the ‘Niners.
That’s why Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton predicts that the 49ers will get in on a trade for Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr.
Robinson ran for 799 yards last season, a career high, and is a powerful back.
The Commanders have reportedly been exploring the idea of trading away Robinson as he enters the final year of his contract.
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Moton proposes that the 49ers trade a fourth-rounder and a sixth-rounder to get their new rusher.
“In March, the 49ers traded Jordan Mason and a 2025 sixth-rounder to the Minnesota Vikings for a 2025 fifth-rounder and a 2026 sixth-rounder,” Moton writes. “Now, ironically, they lack depth in the backfield. Head coach Kyle Shanahan expects Isaac Guerendo to miss a few weeks with a shoulder injury. Going back to last year, he’s missed time because of minor injuries. Rookie fifth-rounder Jordan James underwent surgery on a broken finger.
“Recently, the 49ers signed Jeff Wilson, which underscores their need for healthy bodies in the backfield. If the 49ers want to lighten Christian McCaffrey’s workload, they must add a durable running back to the rotation. Robinson can grind out yards between the tackles, which would allow McCaffrey to stay fresh for the length of the regular season.”
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Wilson did run for a touchdown in the 49ers’ preseason game over the weekend, a classic 1-yard plunge by JWJ.
The 49ers will be fine if CMC stays healthy, but if they can take a bit off his plate early in the season by having another established running back on the roster, that could be useful in the long run.
If the cost really is just a couple mid-to-late-round picks, it’s probably worth pursuing for San Francisco.
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