The San Francisco 49ers are placing a second-round tender on running back Jordan Mason, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. That means Mason will be under contract for a one-year deal worth $5.34 million in 2025 unless another team is willing to part ways with a second-round pick.

This comes after the first day of free agency, when running back Najee Harris signed a one-year deal worth $9.25 million with the Los Angeles Chargers, and Javonte Williams signed a one-year deal with the Dallas Cowboys for $3 million. I wonder if the 49ers wanted to see how the market reacted on Day 1 and then would decide how to approach Mason.

The upcoming NFL Draft is loaded at the running back position. If there was a team willing to give up a second-rounder and pay them $5 million, it was a team with Greg Roman at offensive coordinator or Jerry Jones calling the shot.

Teams like the Broncos, Steelers, Ravens, Raiders, Giants, and I’m sure there are a handful of others, could use a quality starting running back. That’s what Mason proved he could be in 2024.

Mason led the 49ers in rushing during the regular season in rushing yards, yards per carry, first downs, and rushes of at least 20 yards. For the first month or so of the season, Mason was leading the NFL in rushing yards.

Mason, who turns 26 in May, only has 236 carries to his name in the NFL. He was especially potent when the 49ers ran outside of the tackles. Mason was second in the NFL in yards per carry outside of the tackles at 6.3. He was also fourth in the NFL in yards after contact and finished tenth in percentage of carries with a broken or missed tackle.

There’s a reason the 49ers placed a second-round tender on Mason, and it’s because of the production listed above. A shoulder injury in October and a high-ankle sprain in December cut Mason’s season short, but based on everything he showed in his first season as the “bell cow,” Mason impressed.

But was he impressive enough for another team to swoop in and give up a second-rounder? We will find out.