It’s no secret that the 49ers have had a lot of success with undrafted free agent running backs in the Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch era. From Matt Breida and Raheem Mostert to Jeff Wilson Jr. and Jordan Mason, San Francisco has consistently gotten backfield production from backs who were afterthoughts in the draft process.
They parlayed Mason’s impressive 2024 season in relief of the injured Christian McCaffrey into a 2025 fifth-round pick and a 2026 sixth-rounder as he was traded to the Minnesota Vikings.
The decision to move on from Mason was likely made easier by the level of running back talent available in the draft.