Why the 49ers Drafted RB Isaac Guerendo

The 49ers liked Louisville running back Isaac Guerendo so much that they traded up for him.

Sep 23, 2023; Louisville, Kentucky, USA; Louisville Cardinals running back Isaac Guerendo (23) runs / Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports

For the third time in the last four NFL drafts, the San Francisco 49ers drafted a running back.

This time around it is Louisville running back Isaac Guerendo. Now, running back isn't a position of need for the 49ers at all. They obviously have Christian McCaffrey who has a stranglehold on the position, then there is Elijah Mitchell to rotate in when the need arises.

Clearly, the 49ers saw something in Guerendo that they had to trade up and draft him instead of waiting. Here is what Kyle Shanahan had to say that enticed the 49ers into drafting Guerendo.

“Well we love his speed," said Shanahan. "We think he’s got a lot of speed. All our backs can run, but it's nice to add one who possibly can run a little bit faster just for the change of pace and things like that. We like his running style. His running style I think is similar to Elijah’s [Mitchell] and the style that he runs with, he's built that way and like the 40 that he has."

Guerendo was lightning fast at the NFL combine. He recorded a 4.33 40-yard dash and demonstrated quick play speed in college. The 49ers don't really have that speed running back and haven't since Raheem Mostert. Guerendo is a one-cut-and-go type of running back, which has to excite Shanahan given his speed.

Since speed is what Shanahan emphasized, it looks like that is what he really wanted to bring to the running back room. But Shanahan refutes that notion as it was more of the overall player that happened to have some fantastic speed.

The preseason will likely be the only way the 49ers will get to play Guerendo barring injuries to both McCaffrey and Mitchell. So, it'll be a little less than four months until his speed and one-cut style will get put on display for everyone to witness.