The San Francisco 49ers rank No. 12 in rushing this season. That's down from No. 7 last year. In 2019, the team's run game ranked second in the NFL. Could head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch look to make a move ahead of the November 1 trade deadline to bolster the run?
Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey is available. You know, one of the guys the 49ers passed on in 2017 to select defensive lineman Solomon Thomas. Although, the cost might be too high for the 49ers. CBS Sports insider Jonathan Jones named the 49ers as one of the teams that have shown "varying degrees of interest" in the veteran running back.
Today, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler briefly mentioned Shanahan's squad while discussing trade options for McCaffrey.
"At the least, Buffalo and others would love to have McCaffrey's skill in their backfields," Fowler wrote. "The Rams and San Francisco 49ers have been implicated in McCaffrey's market, too."
McCaffrey has over $36 million left on the remaining three-plus years of his deal. However, there is an out after this season, potentially making the running back a cheap rental for a team that believes they have a championship-caliber offense. McCaffrey is owed $575,000 for the remainder of 2022. The salary for each of the three remaining seasons on McCaffrey's contract jumps to about $12 million after that, per Spotrac.
San Francisco is short on draft capital after trading up to select quarterback Trey Lance last year, making any potential deal a challenge.
Christian McCaffrey would be a huge get for the #49ers.
Costly, but you can't deny he'd be a big addition to the offense.#49wz https://t.co/PcIhodFnXb
— Rohan Chakravarthi (@RohanChakrav) October 18, 2022
Pro Football Focus examined the best trade fits for McCaffrey. They included the 49ers with the Buffalo Bills, Denver Broncos, and Los Angeles Rams.
"Much like the Bills, the 49ers have consistently used Day 2 picks on running backs to no avail, and now starter Elijah Mitchell is on the shelf with a knee injury," wrote Pro Football Focus' Brad Spielberger.
The 49ers expect to get Mitchell back after the bye week. However, the second-year running back has dealt with several injuries in his short time in the league. He fought through shoulder, rib, finger, and knee injuries during his rookie campaign and is working his way back from a Week 1 MCL sprain this season.
"We're hoping to get him back after the bye week," Shanahan told NBC Sports Bay Area last week. "From what I've heard, there's been no setbacks, so that would be huge for us."
McCaffrey might not make too much long-term sense for the 49ers, who have just $5.3 million in salary cap space.
"With major extensions looming for edge defender Nick Bosa and perhaps right tackle Mike McGlinchey in addition to uncertainty at the quarterback position, this may not be a prudent move for San Francisco," wrote Spielberger. "However, in a very weak NFC conference that looks weaker each Sunday, perhaps Shanahan and company are willing to take the gamble in their quest to finally reach the mountaintop."
Last week, Shanahan was asked about the trade deadline. The coach admits he isn't very involved in those discussions right now but has constant dialogue with Lynch about the roster and potential needs.
"They try to get all the options out there, and sometimes there's options, sometimes there's not," Shanahan said. "So it doesn't mean, just because you have issues, you can go get someone. But every once in a while, the stars align, something could work. Hopefully, if there is something that can help us, we'll figure that out."
