The 2025 NFL Draft is well in the rearview mirror by now, but it's still fun to reminisce and dream about what could have been. Though, San Francisco 49ers fans may not want to read about this one.
Leading up to the NFL Draft, running back was an area of potential need after trading backup Jordan Mason to the Minnesota Vikings. Of course, the 49ers still have superstar back Christian McCaffrey, but after the soon-to-be 29-year-old was limited to just four games last season, San Francisco may want another contingency plan.
Meanwhile, former Arizona State University's Cam Skattebo thought he would end up in San Francisco. Of course, Skattebo wasn't selected by the 49ers, instead landing with the New York Giants in the fourth round as the 105th overall pick. But Skattebo was pretty convinced he'd be starting his NFL career in San Francisco instead.
"I actually thought I was going to end up going to San Francisco with that 100th pick," Skattebo said via the St. Brown Podcast. "Vibes started getting high, lights started turning on, videos started turning on and no phone call. So we woke up 9:00 a.m. the next morning on Saturday, and we knew it was going to be within the first 10 picks because the Niners, the Giants, Tennessee Titans and somebody else had another pick back to back to back, and I knew one of those teams were going to take me. I didn't know which one. And then the Giants called."
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Simply put, Skattebo was a monster in college, earning first-team All-American honors after rushing for a career-high 1,711 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns. Many thought that type of performance would put him in play to be a Day 2 selection, yet clocking a 4.66-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine surely played a factor in his draft stock.
While the 49ers didn't select Skattebo, they used the 100th overall pick on cornerback Upton Stout. Interestingly enough, the 49ers did add another running back later, picking Oregon's Jordan James. Plus, the 49ers still have Isaac Guerendo, who's set to replace Mason in the backup role.
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