So yesterday we started a 9-part series of looking at what each position group counts against the 2021 cap, we started with the Quarterbacks, now we head to the Running Backs & Fullbacks.
The 49ers have 8 total, 6 of them being normal running backs, and 2 fullbacks, and they’d count $11,784,333 against the 2021 cap.
First up is Raheem Mostert, who is set to count $3,600,981 in 2021, and while I thought a Mostert extension was a potential thing, that became a 0% chance once they drafted 2 backs, Trey Sermon, & Elijah Mitchell.
Mostert was the teams leading rusher in 2019, helping lead them to the Super Bowl, but in 2020, Mostert had a hard time staying on the field.
Mostert, when healthy, is a lethal back, both in the run game, and passing game.
But beyond 2021, he’s unsigned, and it’s really a 50/50 on whether or not the 49ers retain him next offseason.
The 49ers could keep him, as he is such a lethal weapon, or decide not to, due to 1. Trey Sermon & Elijah Mitchell, and 2. Mostert asking for a new deal a year after signing the current deal he is on.
Next we have the teams OW, or offensive weapon as Head Coach Kyle Shanahan has called him, Fullback Kyle Juszyzck.
Juice is set to make $2,251,471 against the 2021 cap.
One of the biggest questions heading into the 2021 offseason was will the 49ers keep him, or will he opt to maybe go to the Jets, but luckily the 49ers kept him, with a 5-year deal, worth $27 million, an average of $5.4 million a year, with $9.6 million of it being fully guaranteed.
I think it’s safe to say Juice will be a 49er for a long long time, as he said the 49ers were the best fit for him.
Next is last years leading rusher, Jeff Wilson Jr., who will count $2.05 million, fully guaranteed.
Things seemed fine until he suffered a torn meniscus during OTAs, with him expected to miss 4-6 months, and he’ll likely start the season on the PUP list, while the 49ers hope he’s back midseason.
Now we have the 88th-overall pick in this years draft, Trey Sermon, who is set to count, once signed, $885,988 against the 2021 cap.
To me the Sermon pick signaled that Raheem Mostert’s days in San Francisco were numbered, and Sermon is a guy who many analysts think will have a very good rookie season.
Sermon could very well take over the starting spot sometime in 2021, either due to play, and/or due to injuries, but to me, he’s the future for the 49ers at running back.
Next we have veteran Wayne Gallman Jr., who is set to count $850,000 against the cap for 2021.
Now Gallman was signed a few weeks prior to the 2021 NFL Draft, when the 49ers had just Mostert, & Wilson as locks to make the 2021 roster, so this signing assumed that Gallman would end up being a lock as well, that was until they drafted 2 backs.
Gallman did a very well job with the Giants after they lost Saquon Barkley to a torn ACL, but with no guaranteed money in his deal, he’s no lock.
But due to the injury to Wilson, Gallman looks like he will make the 2021 roster, which will guarantee his $850,000 salary for 2021.
Next is 2020 UDFA JaMycal Hasty, who is set to count $780,000 against the cap for 2021.
I recently listed Hasty a player that could sneak his way onto the 53-man roster when final cuts are made, as he looked really good in the limited amount of playing time he had in 2020.
But he’ll have to beat out Gallman, and 6th-rounder Elijah Mitchell.
Now we have Mitchell, who will count $705,893 against the 2021 cap, and when he was drafted, the team had Mostert, Wilson, Gallman, their 3rd-rounder Sermon already & basically ahead of him on the depth chart, but with the injury to Wilson, it’s looking more likely that he makes the final 53.
But he’ll have to beat out either Hasty or Gallman, as I do believe the 49ers keep 4 backs after all the injuries they’ve had to the backfield.
Something Mitchell can offer that the others can’t or don’t is the ability to be a returner, as the team desperately needs an upgrade at both Kick Returner, & Punt Returner.
Finally we have the other Fullback Josh Hokit, who is set to count just $660,000 against the 2021 cap, that’s if he were to make it, but he’s more than likely heading to the teams practice squad.
Hokit is a guy many fans thought could be developed to take over for Juszyzck had he not come back, and they may very well be grooming Hokit, he’s similar to Juice, he can run, block, line up as a TE, in the Slot, so he’s a guy to look for in the future, I’m not saying he’s going to push Juice off the roster in the future, but they could end up one year keeping 2 fullbacks, with Hokit serving as a FB/TE.
So with all of this said, I thank everyone for reading article, as always you can follow me on Twitter @49erscap, or leave a comment below, and I’ll get back to you.
About Author
