Tevin Coleman vs. Jerick McKinnon: 49ers Training Camp Battle
49ers training camp will start July 28, as far as we know.
The start date could change, because the NFL and the Players’ Association can’t seem to agree on practice parameters during the current pandemic. So who knows?
But it will start eventually. And when it does., certain players will need to be ready for the battle of their careers.
During the leadup to training camp, I will break down the 49ers’ biggest camp battles. Today, I break down the battle to be the No. 2 running back:
Tevin Coleman versus Jerick McKinnon.
We know Raheem Mostert almost certainly will be the starting running back after his sensational 2019 season. He even has bulked up to handle a starter’s workload in 2020.
So who will be Mostert’s backup?
The favorite is Tevin Coleman, because he started 13 games for the 49ers last season, counting the playoffs. Plus he’s the most expensive running back on the roster. The 49ers gave him a two-year, $8.5 million contract in 2019.
But Coleman didn’t perform up to expectations last season -- he averaged only 4 yards per carry. The 49ers might like to cut Coleman and save a couple million dollars. Of course, cutting Coleman would be an admission that signing him was a mistake to begin with. And head coach Kyle Shanahan handpicked Coleman in free agency after coaching drafting him and coaching him on the Falcons. And Shanahan doesn’t seem to like admitting mistakes.
But Shanahan also handpicked McKinnon in 2018. Gave him a four-year, $30 million contract. Made him one of the highest-paid running backs in the league at the time. McKinnon was supposed to be the 49ers’ starting running back, but he tore his ACL during training camp and has never played a game for the 49ers. Has missed the past two seasons.
This year, the 49ers renegotiated McKinnon’s contract. So now, his 2020 base salary is just $910,000 -- the veteran minimum. If he stays healthy and regains most of the speed and quickness he had before he tore his ACL, then he’ll be a cheaper, better No. 2 running back than Coleman.
I predict McKinnon will win this battle, and the 49ers will cut Coleman before the regular season.
