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Michigan State Football: 5 best landing spots for Kenneth Walker III in NFL draft

By Emmett Matasovsky

Michigan State's Kenneth Walker III avoids a tackle by Michigan's R.J. Moten during his touchdown run during the fourth quarter on Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.
Michigan State's Kenneth Walker III avoids a tackle by Michigan's R.J. Moten during his touchdown run during the fourth quarter on Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing. /
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Jan 30, 2022; Inglewood, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Elijah Mitchell (25) runs the ball against the Los Angeles Rams in the fourth quarter during the NFC Championship Game at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 30, 2022; Inglewood, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Elijah Mitchell (25) runs the ball against the Los Angeles Rams in the fourth quarter during the NFC Championship Game at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

4. San Francisco 49ers

Division: NFC West
Running back room: *Deebo Samuel (26), Elijah Mitchell (23), Jeff Wilson Jr. (26), Trey Sermon (23), JaMycal Hasty (25)

Notes: Samuel is listed as a WR for the 49ers, but played snaps at RB in the late and postseason.

The San Francisco 49ers are coming off a season that nearly saw them become the first seven seed to reach the Super Bowl in NFL history. If Jacquiski Tartt did not drop a crucial interception, Jimmy Garoppolo could be addressed as a Super Bowl-winning quarterback, or even MVP. Instead, he is a good candidate to be moved so that Trey Lance can be the future in the Bay Area.

The 49ers saw seventh-round draft pick Elijah Mitchell burst onto the scene last year, rushing for nearly 1,000 yards while having six total touchdowns. Behind Mitchell, there is no established running back, with Trey Sermon missing most of his rookie year with injuries, as well as a poor first start, and Jeff Wilson having missed most of last season.

As stated with Carolina, an extra running back will help take the pressure off a new starter. Additionally, Deebo Samuel, who was their gadget player that carried the team last postseason, is allegedly requesting a trade and wants nothing to do with the 49ers organization.

The main problem for San Francisco is their lack of early draft picks. The 49ers have their first pick at No. 61, well after when Kenneth Walker III should be off the board. However, the 49ers have multiple third-round picks to play with, as well as any additional picks that come with the potential trades of Samuel and/or Garoppolo. The 49ers could very well move up to draft Walker III.

Walker III would slot in nicely in the NFC West. While Mitchell is the established starter, Walker should push Elijah Mitchell and make the 49ers have one of the best running back rooms in the entire NFL. No matter how Lance or Garoppolo pan out, the 49ers would have two dynamic running backs at the beginning of their careers.

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