Frank Gore is one of the best running backs in the NFL. His consistent dominance has been one of the reasons the San Francisco 49ers' offense has remained so successful. However, this past April the 49ers opted to draft Carlos Hyde out of Ohio State despite having Gore in the prime of his career. The head scratching move seemed odd at the time. However, now the move is making sense after it was reported Gore's roster spot was in jeopardy.
Gore was coming off yet another 1,000-yard season. The running back put up 1,128 yards and nine touchdowns last season, but reportedly had to reapply for the starting job. NFL Media's Ian Rapoport is reporting that the 49ers were upfront with Gore about the potential of him getting cut prior to the year beginning. According to Rapoport, members of the front office were concerned that Gore was 31 and owed $6 million this season. They wanted to make sure he was worth the investment because if not, Hyde was waiting to take his spot.
It appears Gore got the message loud and clear. The running back has put up 403 yards this season. He is averaging 4.7 yards per carry which is the third-highest in his career. His success has taken away the idea that Hyde would split carries with the veteran. The rookie running back has 132 yards entering Monday's game. Most assumed Hyde would play a more significant role in the offense, but Gore is running too well to make a change.
The question now becomes whether or not Gore gets a new deal with the 49ers. The running back will be an unrestricted free agent in 2015. His resume reads of a running back due a nice pay raise and mutli-year deal, but his age is that of a short-term contract. The 49ers have Hyde and potentially a healthy Marcus Lattimore. Will they invest in Gore with another contract? Negotiations could get ugly as the veteran will be seeking some kind of multi-year deal and the market for running backs is simply not that strong. Players like Knowshon Moreno and LeGarrette Blount were coming off career-high years and only managed a one-year deal.
49ers general manager Trent Baalke told the Bay Area News Group that the reports surrounding Gore were simply untrue. He denies ever telling Gore that his roster spot was in jeopardy. Baalke can prove that around contract talks time.
