Total Pro Sports
The San Francisco 49ers don’t need more drama in the backfield. Christian McCaffrey is someone to look up to, but the depth behind him looks thin with the season around the corner. And when you remember McCaffrey’s history with injuries, the thought of him going down sends a chill through San Francisco.
The Niners have already lost a number of running backs this offseason. Ameer Abdullah was ruled out for the entire 2025 campaign, and just today the team placed Patrick Taylor Jr. on season-ending IR with a shoulder injury.
That’s why a potential deal for Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. makes so much sense. Robinson brings toughness, balance, and the kind of style that Kyle Shanahan loves in his system.
USA Today’s Jacob Camenker wrote, “The 49ers have a great lead back in Christian McCaffrey, but they could use depth behind the 29-year-old star.” With Isaac Guerendo and Jordan James injured, he added, “Robinson’s mix of size and power would complement McCaffrey – a more elusive runner – well.”
Robinson’s story is remarkable. Drafted in 2022, he overcame a shooting just weeks before his rookie year and still ran for nearly 800 yards in 12 games. In 2023, he proved he wasn’t just a grinder, producing over 1,100 total yards and nine scores. Last season, he found another gear, finishing with 799 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 4.3 yards per carry. He even chipped in as a pass-catcher with 159 receiving yards.
Financially, Robinson makes sense with just a $3.62 million cap hit in his contract year. A conditional fifth-rounder that could bump to a fourth, plus a seventh, feels fair. The 49ers get reliable depth, and Washington grabs draft picks.
On the field, he fits Shanahan’s zone scheme perfectly. Robinson runs with power, handles passing downs, and gives San Francisco a true red-zone option. With defenses focused on McCaffrey, Kittle, and Juszczyk, Robinson could shine as a late-game closer.
The Niners know they can’t ride McCaffrey into the ground and expect him to last all year. Adding Robinson would give Brock Purdy another reliable weapon and take some pressure off the star running back. And after Kittle recently called out Purdy for skipping camp, the idea of adding a steady, physical back who can grind out games feels even more important.
The regular season is almost here. If San Francisco wants to act, now’s the time.
