The San Francisco 49ers have one of the best running backs in Christian McCaffrey, but he’ll be 30 once the 2026 NFL season starts. As a result, the Niners need to find a No. 2 guy who can help take the load off his shoulders.
Moreover, could San Francisco find a young version of McCaffrey to ensure they can run the same plays that have allowed the veteran to be successful since arriving in the Bay Area? There’s a potential option for the 49ers in free agency.
During a Feb. 12 appearance on CBS Sports HQ, CBS Sports’ Emory Hunt shared the ideal landing spots for the top free agent running backs with free agency right around the corner. Furthermore, he sees Cleveland Browns‘ Jerome Ford as a perfect fit for the 49ers.
“Jerome Ford has legit explosiveness, and when you think of explosive, you always want to think about those offenses that tend to generate a lot of chunk plays, a lot of big plays on both sides of the offense,” Hunt said. “Jerome Ford in an outside zone scheme can be dangerous. If you find a way to get him just a little bit of space on that edge, just a sliver, he’s off to the races.
“When you compare that as an RB2 to what the RB1 looks like in Christian McCaffrey, when he needs a breather and you bring in someone that has real speed with elite‑level acceleration, the defense is already tired. They’re going to be tired trying to chase him down. Now, you really have to worry about Ford getting outside the back gate. It’s a wrap.”
49ers Better Off Win Backup RB Similar to CMC
Additionally, Hunt believes it would be better to bring in an RB2 with similar characteristics to McCaffrey over a power runner like what they have in Brian Robinson Jr., who is also be a free agent next month.
“I think that would make more sense than bringing back Brian Robinson, who also could make a case. But Jerome Ford’s explosiveness as an RB2 is clear. We’ve seen that with all the backs they’ve had in San Francisco outside of Christian McCaffrey. They’ve shared one element, and that’s explosiveness, and Ford has that.”
Last season for the Browns, Ford gained 470 all-purpose yards, so this type of production would be wanted by the 49ers.
Another Free Agent Target the Niners Should Consider
Bolstering the offense is what many insiders and analysts believe the 49ers should do in free agency. Recently, The San Francisco Standard’s David Lombardi shared his take on a potential target that the Niners can pursue to begin reshaping their wideout position.
“I think, at receiver, if you’re the 49ers, that’s where you’re looking at multiple pickups, both through the draft and possibly through at least mid‑tier free agency,” Lombardi said in a Feb. 1 video published on his YouTube channel. “You face a lot of potential pitfalls at wide receiver with the separation issues that the 49ers have struggled with over the past two years.
“Romeo Doubs is a target I really like, formerly of the Green Bay Packers. His market rate might only be [$12 million] to [$15 million], especially if you can’t bring back Jauan Jennings because he costs closer to [$20 million]. Doubs could be a really, really nice pickup for the 49ers.”
Leave a Reply