49ers 3rd-round pick puts one player's roster spot in serious jeopardy

TL;DR

The San Francisco 49ers' selection of running back Kaelon Black in the 2026 NFL draft jeopardizes Isaac Guerendo's roster spot. Guerendo, who has struggled to secure a role, must perform exceptionally in training camp to remain on the team.

Key points

49ers selected running back Kaelon Black in the 2026 NFL draft
Isaac Guerendo's roster spot is in jeopardy
Guerendo has not logged any offensive snaps recently
He needs a strong training camp to secure a spot
Trade rumors may surround Guerendo before camp

San Francisco 49ersIsaac GuerendoKaelon BlackChristian McCaffrey

There's a clear loser from the San Francisco 49ers' selection of running back Kaelon Black in the third round of the 2026 NFL draft.

The writing is now on the wall for third-year RB Isaac Guerendo, who the 49ers selected in the fourth round of the 2024 draft.

Guerendo's spot as Christian McCaffrey's backup was put in jeopardy last year when the club selected RB Jordan James in the fifth round out of Oregon. His hold on that spot slipped further while he spent the entire season contributing on special teams. He didn't log a single offensive snap while James was the go-to option late in the 49ers' blowout playoff loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

It looked like James was poised to go into this season as the No. 2 RB behind McCaffrey. The selection of Black at No. 90 overall is a sign that Guerendo's place on the depth chart has slipped again. Perhaps the 49ers trade Guerendo before camp, but it looks for now like the 2024 fourth-round pick will need to have a huge training camp where he's healthy and capable of contributing on offense and special teams in order to keep a 53-man roster spot.

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This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: 49ers pick Kaelon Black, Isaac Guerendo's roster spot in trouble

Q&A

How does Kaelon Black's draft impact Isaac Guerendo's position?

Kaelon Black's selection puts Isaac Guerendo's roster spot in jeopardy, as he must compete for a backup role behind Christian McCaffrey.

What challenges has Isaac Guerendo faced with the 49ers?

Isaac Guerendo has struggled to log offensive snaps and has primarily contributed on special teams, raising concerns about his future with the team.

Could the 49ers trade Isaac Guerendo before training camp?

There is a possibility that the 49ers may trade Isaac Guerendo before training camp, especially given his declining position on the depth chart.