Unheralded prospect may be 49ers perfect fit with Christian McCaffrey

The San Francisco 49ers need to find a running back who threatens defenses enough as a pass catcher that they can bring Christian McCaffrey off the field without dramatically altering their passing game. Georgia running back Cash Jones is a fascinating name to watch in the 2026 NFL draft with that in mind. Jones, who had a pre-draft meeting with the 49ers according to Sports Illustrated's Justin Melo, brings a pair of skills with him to the NFL that make him a prime candidate to be the latest late-round or undrafted RB to find success in San Francisco.

It's worth noting right away that Jones would have a steep hill to climb before becoming an NFL-caliber RB. His lack of overall experience as a runner (52 carries in five college seasons) would make him a practice squad candidate for at least one year. However, the description of Jones in the Dane Brugler's draft guide in the Athletic highlights a pair of qualities any late-round or undrafted RB would need to find success with the 49ers.

Via the Athletic: Jones was a rotational running back who made an impact on passing downs and special teams. He catches the ball with confident, firm hands (zero drops in 2025) and immediately gets north-south. He can shake linebackers in space and has speed to finish.

He has questionable vision and run strength, however, to be a between-the-tackles runner in the NFL. He made a noticeable jump in pass protection in 2025, compared to his underclassman tape. He played on all kick and punt coverages, and his effort consistently jumped out (recovered game-clinching onside kick versus Texas).