Not all football news on Monday is Las Vegas Raiders related.
The San Francisco 49ers have re-signed running back DuJuan Harris, according to Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee.
In limited work last season, the 28-year-old Harris posted 138 rushing yards and an additional 115 receiving yards. He also lost two fumbles, which contributed to inconsistent playing time.
A few weeks back, I made a list of five 49ers pending free agents I would re-sign, and Harris headlined the list.
What I like most about Harris is that his running style is nearly the opposite of Carlos Hyde. Where he might lack in vision and patience, Harris makes up for it with quickness and open-field speed. His 142-yard performance Nov. 6 against the Saints, including a 47-yard screen pass he turned into a touchdown, shows Kyle Shanahan there is some big play ability in the 5-foot-7, 28-year-old. Shanahan likes to carry three running backs — at least — and Harris is definitely talented and different enough to be the third.
Harris’ constant demotion to the practice squad — and then big performance against New Orleans — was also an indictment on GM Trent Baalke. From an October column on the 49ers:
Need some fresh evidence of how backwards things are in Santa Clara? NFL team’s usually promote practice squad players to fill a roster spot. The 49ers promoted running back DuJuan Harris on Sunday, and he was arguably the team’s most productive player on offense, touching the ball 13 times for 57 yards.
“I’m just doing what I can,” Harris said, who has been cut twice since the start of the season.
This signing won’t prohibit the 49ers from drafting a running back. I reported at the NFL Combine LSU’s Leonard Fournette will remain in the conversation for the No. 2 overall pick. The 49ers lost Shaun Draughn to the New York Giants and are in the market for two or three more runners behind Hyde and Harris come training camp in July.
Harris joins Jeremy Kerley as the only other 49er the new regime re-signed in their first offseason calling shots.
