The San Francisco 49ers have acquired running back Brian Robinson Jr. from the Washington Commanders for a 2026 sixth-round pick. The 26-year-old Cloud has energized the nation’s capital during her breakout season. He was able to maintain a powerhouse pace, rushing for an incredible 1,707 yards in just 41 games. This trade marks a new chapter in Robinson’s career, as he aims to contribute to the 49ers’ potent offense.
Robinson, who was drafted by Washington, had an amazing season last year. He ended the year with a career-high 799 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns. His strong season ultimately ranked him 17th in the country in rushing yards per game with 56.8 yards per contest. He was dealt an even tougher hand off the field, having been shot during an attempted robbery on August 28, 2022. Nonetheless, Robinson displayed incredible toughness, proactively returning from surgery to play 12 games, where he rushed for 797 yards and 2 TDs.
The 2019 first-round draft pick has a solid career YPC of 4.1 yards per attempt. That puts him 40th in yards before contact among all running backs since his 2016 league debut. Yet, despite an impressive tenure, some of his metrics point to opportunities to do better. In reality, he was just 29th in yards after first contact. Furthermore, his percentage of 10+ yard runs was 9.8, which ranked him 86th.
The trade makes sense not just because it allows Robinson to join a competitive Super Bowl-contending team, but because it’s financially beneficial for the Commanders. By trading Robinson, Washington will free up $3.3 million in salary cap space, which they can use to invest in other areas.
Robinson’s addition to San Francisco’s offensive arsenal should give them the power element they’ve been missing in their backfield. The 49ers are still in the market for a player to supplement their improving ground game. Robinson would be a perfect fit to that mold!
“Going into training camp, we really thought this was a deep room,” – Dan Quinn
Robinson missed Washington’s first preseason game against Cincinnati because he was on the non-football injury list. This decision heralds a coming change for him and the franchise’s future. As the Commanders continue to navigate life without him, they’ll need to make up for the production lost with him leaving.
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