Tavon Austin signs with 49ers

Tavon Austin a former 8th overall pick was signed by the 49ers after a two year stint with Dallas. In both of these stops he will play WR despite a successful stint as a RB in St. Louis prior to his time in Dallas. He is an extremely versatile player with experience returning punts and kicks, and he has played WR, and RB. The 49ers have now lost several wide receivers due to injury, but it's the specific receivers they lost that could cause them to develop a large role for Austin. 

Deebo Samuel, Jalen Hurts, Richie James, and Chris Thompson are all hurt. Marquise Goodwin was shipped out via trade, and Emmanuel Sanders signed in New Orleans. These specific names are exactly why I expect Austin to have a role in 2020. Deebo Samuel carried the ball 14 times for 159 yards and 3 tds, Richie James had 2 carries for -1 yards, and Marquise Goodwin had 1 carry for 15 yards. That's 17 Carries by receivers that will not be on the field for the 49ers to start the season, on top of that Jalen Hurd a former RB turned WR is hurt and he would have undoubtedly been their first option to give those Carries to. This also opens up even more opportunities in the passing game as well. Austin is the perfect player to fit the role Samuel vacated, and he can fit the speedster role Goodwin did prior to his trade as well. 

Austin's abilities as a runner could be more valuable as well due to the players the 49ers have in the backfield. Heading into 2020 they decided to trade away Matt Breida, who went from the West Coast all the way to Miami. On top of that Jerrick McKinnon has missed 2 seasons in a row due to torn ACL's and there is no promise that he will return to form after that. Leaving the team with Raheem Mostert, Tevin Coleman, and Jeff Wilson Jr. who are healthy, but all three have had their fair share of injuries in the past as well. Wilson has appeared in just 16 games in his 2 seasons, Tevin Coleman missed 2 games in 2019, but has played in just one 16 game season in 5 years, while Mostert has been a journeyman up until joining the 49ers where he found a home due to special teams play. He had never played a full 16 game season until 2019. That's not a very promising backfield in terms of health, but bringing in a guy like Austin who can take some Carries off of those other guys while also seeing time as a receiver, and possibly even in the return game suddenly you are keeping your backs and fellow receivers healthier while also making the most of a versatile player who isn't at his best simply spending all his time split out as a receiver. His versatility will be on display in Kyle Shanahan's offense, after he had his break out year as a runner under former Shanahan aid Sean McVay. He had 4 years in a row with the Rams in which he carried the ball 28 or more times, and managed 150 or more rushing yards and at least 1 td in 5 straight seasons. That's on top of his other roles. His first 4 years in the NFL he was primarily a receiver, since then he has developed into more of a runner but if you ask him, he doesn't care where he lines up, or how he gets the ball he just wants to play and help his team win. 

It's amazing to me that people view him as a bust. In 96 games this guy has racked up 215 receptions for 2,006 yards and 15 tds 9.3 per reception, with 22 plays of 20+ yards, and 8 40+ yard receptions. 196 carries for 1,340 yards, or 6.8 per carry, 1 tds, with 13 20+ yard carries, and 3 40+ yard carries. In the return game he added 25 kick returns for 451 yards, 185 punt returns for 1,498 yards and 3 tds for an average of 8.1 per return. 

So to recap, he is a solid slot receiver, an above average punt returner, adds depth in the kick return game and has averaged just under 7 yards per carry on nearly 200 carries yet people say he is a bust? I would take his versatility, team first mentality, and production out of a first round pick any day. Because for every guy that produces like Austin who was drafted in the first round there are 7-10 players each year that flame out of the league entirely.