The San Francisco 49ers are counting on a healthy Christian McCaffrey for the 2025 season. The star running back appeared in just four games last year, bookending the season on injured reserve. He'll be 29 years old when the new season kicks off.
"Christian's healthy, he's doing great," head coach Kyle Shanahan said on April 1.
Despite the team's public optimism about McCaffrey's recovery, NFL Analysis writer Ian Van Roy believes the 49ers should consider adding another dynamic offensive weapon to support quarterback Brock Purdy long-term.
While Shanahan has expressed confidence in his current running back room, he hasn't ruled out selecting another back in the draft. Most expect the team to target one on Day 2 or 3.
"We got Isaac [Guerendo] in there, working," Shanahan said. "[We're] pumped to get Patrick [Taylor] back, and we'll see if we add someone in the draft. But you'd like to add one every year."
Still, Van Roy argues that the 49ers should go all-in on Boise State standout Ashton Jeanty.
"The scheme and history show that Purdy is most effective with a superstar running back," Van Roy wrote. "McCaffrey is turning 29 this year and already has several season-ending injuries in his history. Not only would his addition boost Purdy, but it also could solve the running back problem for the 49ers for another decade."
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He also floated the idea that San Francisco might need to trade up to land Jeanty, depending on how the top 10 picks unfold. According to Van Roy, the 49ers already have a valuable bargaining chip in McCaffrey.
"If the goal is to transition to Jeanty anyway, trading McCaffrey with an inflated draft stock makes sense, as the 49ers alone know how strong he looks behind closed doors," he explained.
Van Roy added, "If the 49ers get Jeanty, they'll get a prospect who rushed for 2601 yards and 29 touchdowns in his final college season. That production line alone would be enough to get the offense back on track. Derrick Henry showed the ability to revitalize Lamar Jackson's offense last offseason. Jeanty could do the same for Purdy."
Van Roy isn't the only one intrigued by the potential fit. Danny Parkins, host of FS1's Breakfast Ball, also advocated for the 49ers to target the electric running back.
"I know they're saying McCaffrey's healthy, but for how long?" Parkins asked. "When Christian McCaffrey, an all-world talent, got with Kyle Shanahan, he was simply the best player in football. He led in scrimmage yards, touchdowns, yards per touch. It was unbelievable.
"So, McCaffrey, we know he can play all over the field and we know he doesn't have that much longer in his prime. The 11th overall pick for the number one running back, Shanahan, Jeanty, a match made in heaven."
Jeanty led the NCAA last season with a staggering 2,601 rushing yards, 30 total touchdowns, and an average of seven yards per carry, per Sports Reference. Over the past two seasons, he has totaled 3,948 rushing yards and 49 touchdowns—impressive numbers suggesting he could become the cornerstone of San Francisco's backfield (or any NFL backfield) for years to come.
