NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – DECEMBER 08: Raheem Mostert #31 of the San Francisco 49ers scores a 35 yard touchdown thrown by Emmanuel Sanders #17 against the New Orleans Saints during the second quarter in the game at Mercedes Benz Superdome on December 08, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
After a breakout regular season and playoffs, Raheem Mostert wants to be paid his worth in San Francisco.
The San Francisco 49ers‘ improbable run from cellar-dwellers in the NFC West to one Jimmy Garoppolo completion to Emmanuel Sanders away from Super Bowl glory had much to do with a bevy of playmakers on the offensive side of the ball, including a stout rushing attack. The top dog in the 49ers’ backfield now wants to reap the rewards of a productive season very few around the league saw coming.
Raheem Mostert had a respectable regular season, with 772 yards and eight touchdowns, but it was in the playoffs that he really made his mark. The 27-year-old had 336 rushing yards and five touchdowns in just three games on the Niners’ run through the NFC postseason.
San Francisco 49ers RB Raheem Mostert wants a pay raise.
The 49ers have the cap room to make Mostert a wealthier man, but the question remains whether he has a legitimate argument to make them up the ante. Mostert received a three-year deal just last season, and the contract increases in value and has plenty of incentives for the Purdue product to bet on himself.
Asking the 49ers back to the negotiating table comes with some risk, but as a late-20s NFL player at a position without much value once he peaks post-30, we kind of get where he’s coming from.
Mostert wants to cash in while he has the chance, even if that means tying him to a front-loaded deal by the Bay. In Kyle Shanhan’s offense, he should continue to put up numbers, but previous stints (five teams in just two seasons) prove he’s anything but a sure thing, despite how explosive he looked against Green Bay in the NFC Championship Game.
With players like Todd Gurley getting cut after their age-26 seasons, notice has been given to running backs around the NFL — get your money while you still can.