49ers Training camp: Tyrion Davis Price has significant work to do in RB3 battle
The 49ers have had a couple of highly drafted running backs fail to make the grade in the Kyle Shanahan era. Perhaps the primary question surrounding the position heading into training camp is whether Tyrion Davis-Price will become the latest to be cut from the team before the end of his rookie contract. That fate […]
The 49ers have had a couple of highly drafted running backs fail to make the grade in the Kyle Shanahan era. Perhaps the primary question surrounding the position heading into training camp is whether Tyrion Davis-Price will become the latest to be cut from the team before the end of his rookie contract.
That fate has previously befallen Joe Williams, the 2017 fourth-round pick, and Trey Sermon, who never lived up to his draft status as a 2021 third-round selection.
Davis-Price was a surprise third-round selection last year, and little that happened in his rookie year suggested he will turn out to be a success story.
The former LSU back featured in just six games as a rookie, carrying the ball 34 times for 99 yards in a season in which the depth chart at running back was drastically altered by the blockbuster midseason trade for Christian McCaffrey.
McCaffrey is the undisputed starter having weaponized the 49er passing game with his upside as a pass-catcher both out of the backfield and split out as a receiver in the formation.
The 49ers will look for McCaffrey and Elijah Mitchell to form one of the NFL's most dynamic running back duos. Yet Mitchell's struggles in staying healthy in his brief career increases the importance of the 49ers having a RB3 on whom they can rely. Mitchell played in only five regular-season games last season.
That would increase Davis-Price's potential relevance had the Niners not seemingly unearthed a viable third running back last season.
In Michell's absence, undrafted free agent Jordan Mason excelled in a backup role. Like Davis-Price, Mason is a bruising thumper of a back, but also brings elusiveness as well as speed in the open field that Davis-Price lacks. That speed was most evident on his late game-clinching run in Seattle in the win that locked up the NFC West for the 49ers.
Mason averaged six yards per carry in his rookie season, while Davis-Price managed just 2.9 yards per attempt.
Making up that disparity will be no mean feat for Davis-Price, though Mason will know his apparent advantage will disappear if he does not show up for camp in shape and ready to build on last year's flashes.
If it is a straight fight between Mason and Davis-Price for RB3, it is former who has a sizeable edge going into camp.
San Francisco did carry four running backs last season, so losing a competition with Mason would not necessarily be a death knell to Davis-Price's 49ers career. However, his place could be in jeopardy if he shows little signs of improvement, particularly given the Niners have two undrafted rookies in Khalan Laborn and Ronald Awatt who will each be out to make an impression.
Davis-Price was an eyebrow-raising draft pick, and he has work to do in training camp to ensure he is not a high-profile casualty come roster cutdown day.
One goal for each 49ers draft pick in training camp and preseason
Making an early impression won’t be easy.
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