The San Francisco 49ers have been one of the most injury-ravaged teams in recent history, especially in 2020, when backups were playing in many of the key positions for a majority of the season.
At the forefront of the injury conundrum is running back Raheem Mostert, who ran the ball just twice this past season before suffering a knee injury that cost him the entire year.
When healthy, Mostert has been the best running back on the roster, averaging 5.7 yards per carry throughout his career with the 49ers, utilizing his blazing speed and elite vision, both of which fit perfectly in Kyle Shanahan's outside-zone scheme.
Mostert, who signed a three-year, $8.7 million deal prior to the 2019 NFL season, is a free agent this offseason.
The 49ers are tasked with a tough decision—do they bring Mostert back to serve in a committee with Deebo Samuel, Trey Lance, and rookies Elijah Mitchell and Trey Sermon, or do they let the veteran running back walk in free agency?
Let's analyze the entirety of the situation.
Looking at Mostert's injury history, the 29-year old has finished four of his five seasons in San Francisco on Injured Reserve, having sustained a knee injury in 2017, a forearm fracture in 2018, a high-ankle sprain in 2020, and the knee injury in 2021.
When talking about the definition of an injury-prone player, look no further than Mostert's case.
However, as part of a running back committee, Mostert has excelled when on the field, rushing 137 times for 772 yards (5.6 yards per carry) in 2019 while splitting carries with Tevin Coleman.
Mostert has been a postseason hero too, which has been lacking on the offensive side of the ball during the Jimmy Garoppolo era, averaging 112 yards per game on 6.3 yards per carry during his three career postseason appearances in 2019.
In addition, NBC Sports's Jennifer Lee Chan has reported that the 49ers "have been in touch" with Mostert's agent regarding a reunion in 2022, indicating there is mutual interest between the two sides.
Looking from Mostert's perspective, he could be incentivized to return to the 49ers on a prove-it deal, given his vast success in Shanahan's system and the strength of the offensive line, before looking to earn a bigger contract next season when the salary cap is expected to increase significantly after the new television deals go into effect.
Still, that doesn't mean there won't be suitors for a player of Mostert's caliber.
The Miami Dolphins recently hired former 49ers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, San Francisco's run-game guru for the past five seasons, as their new head coach. McDaniel could look to acquire the services of Mostert to jumpstart his Dolphins tenure as there's familiarity between the two sides and Miami has around $60 million in cap space, per Over The Cap.
For the right price, the 49ers should make it a priority to sign Raheem Mostert back, utilizing him in a running back committee headlined by him and Elijah Mitchell. As a rookie, Mitchell served as somewhat of a bell-cow running back for Kyle Shanahan and had his fair share of injuries as a result. Implementing a strategy similar to the 49ers' blueprint in 2019, when Mostert and Tevin Coleman both had 137 carries, could preserve the bodies of both players while capitalizing on their strengths in a diverse gameplan.