SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Shaun Draughn literally was signed off the street last season by the San Francisco 49ers in the wake of Carlos Hyde suffering a stress fracture in his left foot and immediately became the Niners' starting running back.
Thirteen days after the Cleveland Browns cut him.
That’s how desperate the 49ers were for a running back. And that’s how desperate Draughn was for a job. He did not disappoint as a hard-running pleasant surprise.
But after averaging 3.5 yards per carry in rushing for 263 yards in six games, compared to Hyde’s team-leading 470 yards on the ground in averaging 4.1 yards per carry in seven games, should Draughn, who came to Santa Clara on Nov. 2, be re-signed by the Niners?
Reason to re-sign: In new coach Chip Kelly’s zone-blocking scheme and fast-paced offense, the Niners need backs that are more interchangeable than change-of-pace type runners. And with the similarities in styles between Hyde and Draughn, it makes more than a little sense because, again, Draughn proved his worth when he was on the field.
Reason to let walk: Not even Draughn could avoid the injury bug that took massive bites out of the Niners last year as he missed the final two games with a knee injury, so who knows if he’s sound. Plus, the Niners already used a draft pick last year on Mike Davis and still have big back Kendall Gaskins.
The verdict: So long as the knee checks out, the 49ers should bring Draughn back. He showed enough as Hyde’s replacement last season to be Hyde’s backup this year.
