49ers roster breakdowns, 90-in-90: RB/KR Raheem Mostert

Each year, we run a series of post called "90-in-90" here at Niners Nation. The idea is that we'll take a look at every single player on the roster, from the very bottom to the top and break them down a few different ways. This is to help give everyone a basic understanding of a roster. Of course, this roster will change, and some days we'll have more than one so it's not strictly one per day but you get the idea.

RB Raheem Mostert averages 6.0 yards per carry in his NFL career. So why isn’t he a lock to make the Niners? Because he has only a single carry in two years. That came for San Francisco actually, in last year’s season closer against the Seahawks, so the trend is all up I guess.

The 2015 UDFA was a fan favorite in Philadelphia, released on cut-down day and signed to the practice squad. Miami signed him away 8 days later; he immediately returned two kicks for a combined 57 yards. Three times that year, teams signed him off practice squads and later released him.

That’s basically the story of his NFL career so far: excellent kick returning, getting cut, getting signed to a practice squad, moving up to the active roster. Repeat the cycle.

Mostert has returned 21 kicks in 2 years, and 18 of them were for over 20 yards. Two were over 40. He averages 26.9 yards per return; if he had had more returns last year, that would have made him 4th in the NFL, just ahead of Seattle’s Tyler Lockett (26.35).

Basic info

Age: 25
Experience: 2 accrued seasons
Height: 5’11
Weight: 190 lbs
Pronounced: “MOE-sturt”

Cap status

Signed a two year contract for $1,140,000 last December 31st, with base salaries of $525,000 (2016) and $615,000 (2017).

What to expect in 2017

Teams continue to like what Mostert is showing, which is why he keeps getting signed to different teams. With two years in the league, he knows what he needs to do.

But Mostert has spent two years bouncing around practice squads and almost, sort of making teams for a reason - it’s hard to free up a precious roster slot for a guy who mostly just returns kicks, as valuable as that skill is.

It won’t be any easier for him in San Francisco, which has a solid incumbent in Carlos Hyde. The fact that the team has acquired several other RBs since Mostert made the team last December — trading for Kapri Bibbs, drafting Joe Williams and signing Tim Hightower and Matt Breida, is not a good sign for him.

Odds of making the roster

Frankly, it seems unlikely that he’ll beat out any of those running backs competing for the 2 or 3 backup RB slots, so his chance of making the team boils down to being an incredible kick returner, or a solid four-core special teams contributor. Unfortunately, he has only one tackle in 14 games on defensive special teams.

He also is battling an unnamed soft-tissue injury (per Matt Maiocco) at the worst possible time, which had caused him to miss both the April mini-camp and Tuesday’s OTA.

Long story short: it’s not looking good for him.