Veteran running back prime trade candidate for 49ers before training camp

The San Francisco 49ers are heading into 2024 with a ton of momentum. Not only did they make it to the Super Bowl, but they also are holding onto a majority of the roster that got them there.

That being said, there are a few players whose place on the 49ers is still in question. While the most talked about trade candidate for San Francisco is Brandon Aiyuk, another veteran player could find themselves on a different team after training camp.

According to Joe Tansey of Bleacher Report , running back Elijah Mitchell's spot on the roster is in question. While he had a great season in 2021, almost hitting 1,000 yards, he hasn't hit the 300-yard mark in his previous two seasons.

This is largely because the 49ers acquired Christian McCaffrey, quickly becoming the No. 1 RB on the team. To make matters worse, San Francisco also drafted a running back this year, Isaac Guerendo, leaving Mitchell to battle it out for the No. 2 spot. Because of this, Tansey believes Mitchell could be a prime trade candidate for San Francisco.

"Mitchell's two sub-300-yard seasons might not intrigue some teams, but he has previous responsibility as the top guy and averaged over 4.5 yards per carry in two of his three NFL seasons," Tansey said.

"Guerendo and Jordan Mason can be good insurance policies for McCaffrey if Mitchell moves on. Any market for Mitchell would likely develop once training camp begins. One injury could change the entire running back market."

In the end, it looks like San Francisco trading Mitchell is a win-win for both parties. Not only could this help establish the 49ers future, but it could lead to Mitchell getting more touches and proving that he deserves to be the No. 1 guy.

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