Will the 49ers Draft a Running Back?

The 49ers love drafting running backs.

The 49ers seem to be in the market for running backs.

They recently signed Patrick Taylor Jr., which tipped their hand. Because it shows the 49ers aren't satisfied with the running backs they have, even though Taylor Jr. might not make the 53-man roster. Someone else could take his place. Someone from the upcoming draft.

The 49ers love drafting running backs. They drafted two in 2021 -- Trey Sermon and Elijah Mitchell. And then in 2023, they drafted Ty Davis-Price, because why the heck not? And the fact that only one of these three running backs succeeded -- Mitchell -- surely won't deter the 49ers from drafting another one.

And Mitchell's career is fading quickly. He never has played more than 11 games in a season and he's always injured. His knee seems like it never will be 100 percent healthy. So the 49ers have a need at the position, even though their starter is Christian McCaffrey. Because if he gets injured, and running backs get injured all the time, the 49ers will be in trouble.

That's why it's quite possible the 49ers will draft a running back this year, potentially as early as Round 3. That's when they drafted Sermon and Davis-Price, so there's precedent for the 49ers taking a running back in that round.

This year, the 49ers own pick no. 94, which is in Round 3. If Michigan running back Blake Corum is on the board when the 49ers are on the clock, don't be surprised if they take him.