Robert Saleh reveals 49ers nearly made big decision on Cam Skattebo

Tennessee Titans head coach Robert Saleh. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Titans HC Robert Saleh reveals 49ers nearly made major decision on Cam Skattebo

By Olamilekan Ajayi | Last updated Sep 23, 2026 5:45 PM ET

Robert Saleh and the 0-2 Tennessee Titans visit Cam Skattebo and the 1-1 New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on Sunday.

Saleh was asked about the second-year running back on Wednesday, and the Titans coach took the question back to the 2025 NFL Draft, when he was still running the San Francisco 49ers defense.

"He's cool, man. I like him. He's like the old-school 2010 Madden hit stick. Lower your shoulder, run people over. Plays his a-- off. Lots of energy," Saleh said. "I know going into the draft, we were actually about to draft him in San Francisco. Kyle [Shanahan] loved him, and he ended up getting taken right before we were picking. And I think we ended up with C.J. West, who was a pretty damn good player too."

The Giants took Skattebo with the 105th overall pick. San Francisco's next selection came eight spots later at No. 113, where it landed West, the Indiana defensive tackle the team moved to injured reserve on Wednesday.

#Titans HC Robert Saleh says the #49ers were prepared to draft RB Cam Skattebo last year, but the #Giants took him right before they were on the clock.

“Kyle (Shanahan) loved him.” pic.twitter.com/6g5d2WH7IH
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 23, 2026

How close the 49ers were to drafting Cam Skattebo

The 49ers held the 100th pick, five spots ahead of New York, and used it on Western Kentucky cornerback Upton Stout with Skattebo still available. Skattebo grew up in Rio Linda, California, about 130 miles from Levi's Stadium.

"I actually thought I was going to end up going to San Francisco with that 100th pick," Skattebo said last year. "Vibes started getting high, lights started turning on, videos started turning on, and no phone call."

Stout was the fourth defender San Francisco drafted that weekend, and West made it five, the first time since 1981 the franchise opened a draft that way. That haul was built for Saleh's defense, so the running back Shanahan loved lost out at No. 100 to a player Saleh was set to coach.

A dislocated ankle ended Skattebo's rookie season in Week 8, and he has 527 rushing yards and six touchdowns across two seasons. Monday's 28-6 loss to the Los Angeles Rams held him to 36 yards on 12 carries, and with Jaxson Dart ruled out for the year, Jameis Winston now runs an offense likely to lean harder on its back.

Saleh's defense enters the game allowing 120.5 rushing yards per game, which ranks 21st in the league.

Olamilekan Ajayi

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