The 2024 NFL Draft saw the San Francisco 49ers take a big day-three swing that raised plenty of eyebrows.
San Francisco traded two fifth-round picks to the New York Jets to move up in the fourth round and select running back Isaac Guerendo. It was a decision that represented the 49ers' latest ambitious move up the board for a running back and attracted plenty of skepticism given their dreadful track record with previous such trades.
The Niners saw a 2017 trade up for Joe Williams and a move up in the third round for Trey Sermon in 2021 net extremely poor returns. Williams never played a game for the 49ers, while Sermon lasted just one season and scored only one touchdown. San Francisco's third-round pick of Tyrion Davis-Price, though that did not involve a trade up, also proved unsuccessful.
Yet the 49ers are hopeful Guerendo, who boasts game-breaking speed that he showcased with a 40-yard dash time of 4.33 seconds at the Combine, can buck the trend.
And he is taking the right steps towards doing that, the former Wisconsin and Louisville back using his final week before rookies report to 49ers training camp to work with greatest rusher in franchise history.
Guerendo shared a clip to his Instagram account on Tuesday that featured him being coached by Frank Gore, who holds the all-time 49ers record for career rushing yards.
Along with Guerendo, Melvin Gordon, Jonathan Taylor and Gore's son Frank Gore Jr, who was signed by the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent, were also being put through their paces by the five-time Pro Bowler.
Gore established himself as the finest running back to wear a 49er uniform because of his patience, vision and contact balance. Though the Shanahan offense demands decisiveness from its backs, each of the traits that made Gore famous will be needed for Guerendo to ensure his physical tools translate to success at the highest level.
Training with Gore is no guarantee that Guerendo will go on to justify the 49ers' trade for him. However, Gore's expertise should be useful as Guerendo looks to hit the ground running at camp and provide the Niners with a runner who can take more of the burden off Christian McCaffrey.
