Analysis

3/12/23

5 min read

RB Athletic Archetype Guide: San Francisco 49ers

By Nic Bodiford

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Welcome to The 33rd Team’s Athletic Archetypes series. These pieces will break down the preferred, position-specific athletic profiles utilized by NFL general managers. The purpose of the series is to help identify team-specific 2023 NFL Draft targets at the running back position.

NFL Combine data will be used whenever possible. Pro-day data will be used in a supplementary capacity if and when a player chooses not to participate in a combine drill or if the combine data is not available. Pro-day data is marked using an asterisk except for arm length and hand length, which is always collected at pro days.

NFL Draft Scout is the primary data source, with Relative Athletic Score used as the preferred backup. 

Other Archetypes: ARZ | ATL | BUF | CAR | CHI | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | KC | LAC | LAR | LV | MIN | NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | SEA | TB | WAS

49ers' RB Prototype

GM John Lynch (2017 - present)

Sample size: 13 NFL running backs

• Lynch was hired as general manager of the San Francisco 49ers before the 2017 NFL season and has overseen six NFL Drafts. Among the 13 running backs in his sample, four were acquired via the draft, impressively five were added as undrafted free agents, while the star of the show, Christian McCaffrey, was acquired via trade prior to the 2022 deadline.
• Coach Kyle Shanahan undoubtedly has a say in whom Lynch selects. Both Alfred Morris and Tevin Coleman played for Shanahan on prior teams and later joined him in San Francisco. Their athletic archetypes fit inside the Lynch-era data set.

• The table below reflects Lynch’s preferred athletic archetype during his San Francisco tenure (2017-present day).

• Nine of the 13 running backs stand between 5-foot-9 and 5-foot-11. 
• Two of the three running backs standing 6-foot were acquired during the past two years.
• Lynch’s two heaviest running backs, Jordan Mason (223) and Tyrion Davis-Price (219) joined the team in 2022. Lynch notably made an aggressive in-season trade to acquire McCaffrey (drafted at 202 pounds and now listed at 205). 
• The minimum 195-pound threshold will come into play with 2023’s somewhat undersized class.
• Running backs have found success with the 49ers regardless of their 40-yard dash times and 10-yard splits. 
• Rushers like Jeff Wilson Jr. (4.57 seconds and 1.60 seconds, respectively) and Morris (4.67 and 1.63) have produced just as prolifically as Elijah Mitchell (4.35 seconds and 1.51 seconds) and Coleman (4.40 seconds and 1.52 seconds).
• Lynch places an emphasis on shuttle drill performance.
• Among 11 running backs with available short-shuttle data, six ran 4.22 seconds or better (74th percentile relative athletic score) with four going sub-4.20. 
• Among 10 running backs with available three-cone drill data, five finished faster than 6.95 seconds (80th percentile). McCaffrey’s 6.57-second speed is in the 100th percentile.
• Nine San Francisco running backs produced a broad jump of 9-foot-11 or better.
• The vertical jump holds surprising sway. Among eleven running backs with available vertical jump data, nine jumped 34.5 inches or better, six cleared 36.9 inches and two cleared 40. 

Physical Traits 49ers Will Target

• Likely between 5-foot-9 and 5-foot-11, potentially up to 6 feet
• Likely over 195 pounds
• A 4.24-second or better short shuttle time
• A sub-7.00 second three-cone time
• At least a 10-foot broad jump
• A vertical jump better than 34.5 inches, likely circa 37

Potential 2023 RB Targets

• Bijan Robinson, Texas: 5-foot-11, 215 pounds, 10-foot-4 broad jump and a 37-inch vertical jump (scouting report)
• Zach Evans, Mississippi: 5-foot-11, 202 pounds and a 10-foot-1 broad jump. Evans sits just below multiple ideal thresholds with a 4.26-second short shuttle, a 7.08-second three-cone drill and a 33.5-inch vertical jump (scouting report)
• Israel Abanikanda, Pittsburgh: 5-foot-10, 216 pounds, 10-foot-4 broad jump and a 41-inch vertical jump (scouting report)
• Tyjae Spears, Tulane: 5-foot-10, 201 pounds, 10-foot-5 broad jump and a 39-inch vertical jump. His 4.32-second short shuttle is not disqualifying, but his 7.27 three-cone drill could be an issue (scouting report)
• Dewayne McBride, UAB:5-foot-10 and 209 pounds. McBride suffered a pre-NFL Combine hamstring strain that prevented him from participating in pre-NFL Draft workouts (scouting report)
• Chase Brown, Illinois: 5-foot-9.5, 209 pounds, 10-foot-7 broad jump and a 40-inch vertical jump (scouting report)
• Sean Tucker, Syracuse: 5-foot-9 and 207 pounds. Tucker rescheduled his pro day due to an undisclosed medical issue (scouting report)
• Kendre Miller, TCU: 5-foot-11 and 215 pounds. An MCL sprain prevented Miller from participating in pre-NFL Draft workouts
  (scouting report)
• Evan Hull, Northwestern: 5-foot-10, 209 pounds, 10-foot-3 broad jump, 37-inch vertical jump and a 6.90 three-cone. His 4.38-second short shuttle could be an issue.
• Eric Gray, Oklahoma: 5-foot-9, 207 pounds, 4.18-second short shuttle and a 37.5-inch vertical jump. His 7.25-second three-cone drill and 9-foot-10 broad jump are close to the respective lower thresholds.
• Deneric Prince, Tulsa: 6-foot, 216 pounds, 6.97-second three-cone drill, 10-foot-4 broad jump and a 35.5-inch vertical jump. His 4.33-second short shuttle could be an issue.

Measurements for 49ers' RB

Athletic Testing for 49ers' RBs

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Nic Bodiford

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Nic Bodiford contributes to The 33rd Team's fantasy football department and works elsewhere as an analyst and editor in written, video and audio mediums. These works can be found at Pro Football Focus, 4for4, Nerdball and Fake Teams. Nic moonlights at Legendary Upside by editing Pat Kerrane's weekly article, The Walkthrough.