McCaffrey: Kiner, James have been everything 49ers want in rookie RBs

Despite battling injuries last season, Christian McCaffrey is still considered one of the NFL's top running backs, making him an authority when evaluating talent at the position. As the San Francisco 49ers reshape their running back room following the departure of Jordan Mason (now with the Minnesota Vikings), McCaffrey has taken notice of two promising new additions.

The 49ers selected Jordan James out of Oregon in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft and signed Corey Kiner from Cincinnati as an undrafted free agent.

Both rookies join McCaffrey and second-year back Isaac Guerendo in the running back room, competing with Patrick Taylor and Israel Abanikanda for roster spots.

Last week, McCaffrey offered high praise for the two rookies when explicitly asked about Kiner.

"Yeah, he's been great," McCaffrey said of Kiner. "Both our rookie running backs have been awesome. They show up every day, they work hard, they listen, they're attentive, they practice hard."

Rookie RBs impress early

Corey Kiner averaged an impressive 5.4 yards per carry during his three seasons at Cincinnati, surpassing 1,000 rushing yards in each of his last two years. He also tallied 14 touchdowns during his time with the Bearcats.

Meanwhile, Jordan James rushed for 1,267 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2024, matching Kiner's 5.4 yards per carry average. Over his three college seasons, James found the end zone 32 times, showcasing a nose for the goal line that the 49ers hope will translate to the pro level.

"They're everything you would want in a rookie running back," McCaffrey added, "so both those guys have done an awesome job, and it's been fun to get to know them and work with them."

With competition in the running back room, the 49ers' offseason shift to a younger roster could pay off, especially if James and Kiner impress coaches and continue garnering praise from veterans like McCaffrey in training camp.