49ers add more speed to their running back room

The presence of Christian McCaffrey automatically makes the San Francisco 49ers running back room among the best in the NFL. The team also has Elijah Mitchell, Jordan Mason, and Patrick Taylor. There is a common theme within the group—speed.

McCaffrey ran the 40-yard dash in 4.48 seconds at the NFL Scouting Combine in 2017. Mitchell boasted blazing speed at his local pro day in 2021, estimated to be in the range of 4.32 to 4.38 seconds. Taylor ran a 4.57 time but did so following an earlier Lisfranc injury.

On Saturday, the 49ers added another speedy option to the running back room, drafting Isaac Guerendo of Louisville in the fourth round. Guerendo's 4.33-second 40-time in Indianapolis was the fastest among running backs and tied for third fastest overall among the then-draft hopefuls.

"I love his speed," head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters on Saturday. "We think he's got a lot of speed. All our backs can run, but it's nice to add one who possibly can run a little bit faster just for the change of pace and things like that. We like his running style. His running style, I think, is similar to Elijah's and the style that he runs with. And he's built that way, and like the 40 that he has."

Reporters were curious whether the 49ers aimed to enhance their roster speed entering the draft. After all, Jacob Cowing of Arizona, one of the 49ers' other fourth-round selections, posted a 4.38-second 40-time at the NFL Scouting Combine, the fifth-fastest mark among the wide receivers in attendance.

"No, we didn't make a blanket statement like that, but we wanted to add some speed to the running back room if we could," Shanahan commented. "But you don't just add that just to add it. It's got to be the right type of runner with the speed. And there were a couple of guys in the back end in the draft who had that. And this is the one we really liked in that way."

Guerendo finished his collegiate career with 1,392 rushing yards on 231 attempts and 17 rushing touchdowns, adding 42 receptions for 358 yards and a receiving touchdown over five seasons.

In 2023, the running back rushed for 810 yards and 11 rushing touchdowns, adding 22 receptions for 234 yards through 14 games in his only season at Louisville, after transferring from Wisconsin.

49ers running backs coach Bobby Turner set his sights on Guerendo early in the evaluation process.

"Bobby loved him from the beginning. He called him back at all the right times," Shanahan shared, laughing. "He answered his texts. I'm just telling you, if you don't do that, it's hard to come back from that with Bobby.

"But, the same things I said; we all really liked the speed part about him. But lots of guys can run. You have to be as good of a running back, and the physicality he ran with, how he was without the ball in his hand, we felt he was a guy who played to our style, and the skill set could help us."

General manager John Lynch added, "These running backs that are interviewed by Bobby Turner, they've been through the wringer. They have gotten phone calls at all hours, and if they are prompt with their calls, it's a good thing. And Bobby doesn't let it tarnish his view of the kids—maybe a little bit—but we know how to weed through that. And Guerendo, he's excited about him."

While Guerendo's speed was likely the first thing that caught the 49ers' eyes, he displayed versatility in college, which the 49ers highly value. The running back is seen as having the size and build to be an every-down player, and he has shown flashes as both a receiving target and competent blocker.

We'll see if he can carve out a significant role with the 49ers in the future.