San Francisco 49ers: Offensive line must be top priority at 2018 NFL Draft

The New Contract, Part II: Carlos Hyde

As previously established, the San Francisco 49ers are preparing to hand out a long-term contract to quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. The polarizing reality of the upcoming offseason is that Garoppolo isn’t the only player whom the 49ers may hand a significant contract to.

It’s possible that San Francisco will let him walk, but it’s staring down the possibility of paying star running back Carlos Hyde, as well.

Hyde burst onto the scene in 2016, when he ran for 988 yards and six touchdowns in just 13 appearances. Playing with an erratic offensive line and instability at quarterback, Hyde still managed to produce a solid season in San Francisco.

He ran for an average of 3.9 yards per carry in 2017, but picked up 356 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns during Garoppolo’s five starts.

The hurdle here is twofold. On one end, the 49ers’ offensive line is a higher priority, and may thus require money that would otherwise be paid to Hyde. On the other, Matt Breida flashed potential as a rookie, including the 186 yards from scrimmage he amassed in Weeks 16 and 17.

Throw in the possibility of drafting a running back in the later rounds of the 2018 NFL Draft, and re-signing Hyde becomes a lower priority—no matter how badly he wants to be back.