How High Are the 49ers on Their Fifth-Round Rookie RB?
During the offseason, a lot of noise has surrounded the foundation of the 49ers’ running back room for the upcoming 2025 season. A majority of the group is made up of returning players from last season. However, incoming rookie running back Jordan James is a new face who will be looking to make a good impression early. The 49ers selected the Oregon Ducks running back with the 147th pick on Day Three of the 2025 NFL Draft. When developing running backs in San Francisco, quite a few have been Day Three success stories, which is a good start. The 49ers seem to be high on James, with his name being talked about as a potential riser as we inch closer to training camp and the preseason.
He proved he could be called upon time and time again, playing under Dan Lanning in Eugene, rushing for 1,267 yards and 15 touchdowns for the Ducks in his junior season. He slid into the workhorse role after Bucky Irving declared for the 2024 NFL Draft. This placed more pressure on James to improve after playing a complementary role in Oregon’s rushing offense in 2023. Despite the tall task, he responded and played a pivotal role in the team’s road to their first Big Ten title and a spot as the number-one seed in the inaugural 12-team CFP.
Someone will have to step up in the backfield behind the likely duo of Christian McCaffrey and Isaac Guerendo. Guerendo will likely be primed to step into a bigger role. However, if history tells us anything, injuries can pile up quickly in the 49ers’ backfield. As a rookie, James could potentially have a heavier impact than people expect, and should understand the position he is in as the newest member of the position group. Any opportunity could be key in identifying his fit into head coach Kyle Shanahan’s highly efficient offensive running scheme.
The 49ers are a team that doesn’t usually care about draft position for a running back. They give opportunities to the running backs who’ve shown the most improvement after being introduced into an NFL facility. In 2021, the 49ers drafted running back Trey Sermon in the third round. However, their sixth-round pick, Elijah Mitchell, ended up having a greater impact for the team during his tenure, including rushing for 963 yards in his rookie season. The organization obviously believes in James’ talent. However, James will need to show he is ready whenever his time comes.
