This offseason has been all about the trade market for the San Francisco 49ers. It started when Deebo Samuel asked for a trade and was sent to the Washington Commanders. It continued when multiple teams talked to the 49ers about acquiring Brandon Aiyuk and several other names could be on the block in the coming weeks.
With a weak free agent class, teams are more likely to improve their roster via trade than pay top-of-the-market prices. It has led the 49ers to seek what they could get on the trade market with a new playmaker that is reportedly generating big interest.
49ers Running Back Jordan Mason Drew Trade Interest at NFL Scouting Combine
Fantasy Life’s Matthew Berry ran through a list of things he learned at this year’s scouting combine. While the article was presented through the lens of fantasy football, it also gave some insight into the health of Christian McCaffrey and the future of Jordan Mason.
Berry reported that the 49ers have no concerns over McCaffrey after he missed most of last season with calf and Achilles’ injuries and expect him to be ready for training camp. When Berry followed up with the idea of Mason serving as McCaffrey’s backup, it was revealed that teams have inquired about trading for Mason.
“Don’t be surprised if Mason, who proved he could be a legit starting running back in the NFL last season, gets dealt,” Berry said. “This is just me talking, but I feel like it’s not a NFL draft until Kyle Shanahan has taken a late-round running back.”
Berry prefaced his article by noting that his notes in the column were not news, but “unsubstantiated nuggets and tidbits mixed in with my interpretation of what some of the coaches and general managers said from the podium during their public press conferences.” Digging deeper, it may feel like a great time to trade Mason.
Mason will turn 26 in May and is coming off a breakout season in relief of McCaffrey. In 12 games (six starts), the Georgia Tech product ran the ball 153 times for 789 yards and three touchdowns and added 11 catches for 91 yards in the passing game.
It may seem like keeping Mason around is a good idea when McCaffrey turns 29 in June. But this is a good year to take a running back in this year’s class with eight listed in the top 100 of Pro Football Focus’s big board for the upcoming draft.
Shanahan has also cashed in on late-round RBs. Mason himself was a sixth-round pick and 2024 fourth-round pick Isaac Guerendo averaged five yards per carry and ran for four touchdowns in his rookie season.
It could be enough to convince the 49ers to trade Mason and get younger in the backfield and if the right deal happens, Mason could be playing somewhere else in 2025.