At certain points this season, the San Francisco 49ers have relied on their fourth- and even fifth-string running backs to carry the load as injuries have decimated the position group.
The defending NFC Champions have found a way thus far. But at 3-3 with a matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs looming -- not to mention Christian McCaffrey on the injured reserve list (IR) and Jordan Mason questionable with a shoulder injury -- San Francisco is primed to make a deal at the trade deadline for more running back depth.
Bill Barnwell of ESPN put voice and research behind that notion on Thursday, October 17, when he authored a trade pitch in which the 49ers swap a sixth-round pick in 2025 to the Miami Dolphins to reunite with running back Jeff Wilson Jr. The Dolphins would also send the Niners a 2025 seventh-rounder as part of the deal.
"Patrick Taylor Jr. is in the mix -- they could also bring back Matt Breida, who is a free agent -- but adding someone with experience as the lead back in this offense would be helpful. Unlike Breida, who was more of a change-of-pace and home run hitter during his time in San Francisco, Wilson was used as the top back more often," Barnwell wrote. "He's fourth on the depth chart in Miami ... and the Dolphins have competed with the [Cleveland] Browns to be one of the league's worst offenses. Wilson would be useful to have around if all the other backs in front of him get injured."
Wilson spent the first four and a half years of his NFL career in the Bay Area after he signed with the team as an undrafted free agent in 2018.
He appeared in 45 games for the 49ers, starting 15 of those. Wilson amassed 1,733 rushing yards and 15 TDs on 4.4 yards per carry in San Francisco, according to Pro Football Reference, as well as 45 receptions for 387 receiving yards and four scores.
Wilson will turn 29 years old in November and is in the final year of his $6 million contract.
