The 49ers annual running back selection goes to a Louisville player.
The San Francisco 49ers selected Louisville running back Isaac Guerendo with the 129th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. After a pair of a running backs went off the board late in the fourth round, the Niners opted to trade up and make sure they didn’t lose out on another halfback at the end of the fourth round. San Francisco sent the 173rd and 176th overall picks to the New York Jets to acquire the 129th selection.
We knew a running back would happen at some point today. Well, we didn’t have to wait long. Guerendo is all speed. Plus, he’s a sixth-year senior. Experience has been a factor in most of the 49ers draft picks. The Niners did take Guerendo a bit earlier than expected. He was the 164th ranked prospect on the consensus big board.
But he’s not just fast. The Louisville running back had vertical and broad jumps in the 97th and 95th percentiles, respectively. Guerendo was third in the draft in yards after contact per attempt. He was sixth in broken tackles per 100 touches. And he looks comfortable catching the ball. That was an issue for Jordan Mason. The 49ers want to play a running back that doesn’t make them one-dimensional.
Guerendo was never the top running back on the depth chart during his college career, but that did not stop him from consistently making an impact. He spent the first four years of his college career at Wisconsin, where he averaged 5.9 yards per touch for 706 yards from scrimmage and seven touchdowns. His production took a massive step forward this past season though, after he transferred to Louisville. Guerendo recorded 810 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns on 132 carries alongside 234 receiving yards on 22 receptions.
The Niners busy start to Day 3 isn’t over yet. They were able to retain their other fourth-round pick in the trade up and are still slated to make the 135th overall selection.
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