Fansided

5 potential NFL training camp surprise cuts

By Nicholas McGee

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - DECEMBER 29: Mohamed Sanu #14 of the New England Patriots celebrates during the game against the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium on December 29, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. The Dolphins defeat the Patriots 27-24. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - DECEMBER 29: Mohamed Sanu #14 of the New England Patriots celebrates during the game against the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium on December 29, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. The Dolphins defeat the Patriots 27-24. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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MIAMI, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 02: Tevin Coleman #26 of the San Francisco 49ers carries the ball against the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIV at Hard Rock Stadium on February 02, 2020 in Miami, Florida. The Chiefs won the game 31-20. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 02: Tevin Coleman #26 of the San Francisco 49ers carries the ball against the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIV at Hard Rock Stadium on February 02, 2020 in Miami, Florida. The Chiefs won the game 31-20. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

Tevin Coleman – San Francisco 49ers

San Francisco had tremendous success running the football last season, with Coleman a featured part of a ground game that ranked second in the NFL in rushing last year behind the Baltimore Ravens.

His burst, speed and decisiveness make Coleman an excellent fit for the Niners’ zone-running scheme and Kyle Shanahan may be reluctant to part with him after just one season.

But Coleman battled injuries in his debut campaign for San Francisco and given the other options the 49ers have at running back, his cap hit of $4.86 million looks expensive for a team that will need increased financial flexibility to sign George Kittle to an extension that will be a record-setting one at the tight end position. Releasing Coleman would cost the Niners $2m in dead money.

The Niners run a committee backfield but Raheem Mostert’s exploits in the playoff make him the favorite for the lion’s share of the workload. San Francisco traded Matt Breida in during the draft, so Coleman’s place on the roster may well hinge on how Jerick McKinnon looks after losing his first two seasons with the 49ers to the torn ACL he suffered in 2018.

If McKinnon is the player the 49ers expected they were getting two years ago or one of the two undrafted rookies they signed – JaMycal Hasty and Salvon Ahmed – shine in what will be abbreviated preparations for the new season, Coleman may find himself looking for a new team.

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