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.
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).
If a player is going to carve out a spot on the 49ers' RB depth chart, they'd have to contribute on special teams. That was Jones' primary role in college. His athleticism is good enough that he could develop as a running back, and he already brings the receiving skills that have eluded some 49ers RBs in their quest to find playing time behind McCaffrey.
Given Jones's production profile (109 touches, 826 yards and nine touchdowns in 55 games), he's a longshot to have an impact in the NFL. There's enough there that a team like the 49ers that has a pretty specific RB need may be willing to take a flier on him, though. And there may not be a better fit for Jones if he's going to make a 53-man roster.
This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: NFL draft: RB Cash Jones could be 49ers' perfect backup