Report: Cody Schrader to sign with San Francisco 49ers as undrafted free agent

Missouri running back Cody Schrader is set to sign with the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent, Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz reported. A Heisman Trophy finalist in 2023, he will now head to San Francisco after falling out of the 2024 NFL Draft.

Schrader had an outstanding two years at Missouri after emerging from a much lower level of football.

He led the nation in rushing during the 2023 season, racking up an impressive 1,627 yards and 14 touchdowns on 276 carries. He also added 22 catches for 191 yards.

Schrader is a short, powerful runner who gains a lot of yardage after contact, a style that should make him ideally suited to play in the NFL. There may be some concern about wear and tear; he has carried the football 446 times over the past two seasons.

Still, he’s a talented playmaker who should do well if he can find the right fit with his new team.

Prior to enrolling at Missouri, Cody Schrader spent the 2018-21 seasons at Truman State before ultimately walking on with the Tigers. He was named the 2021 GLVC Co-Offensive Player of the year after leading NCAA D-II in rushing with 2,074 yards.

Schrader was an unranked prospect out of high school.

What NFL Draft analysts are saying about Cody Schrader

Lack of height will be one knock on Schrader, but he makes up for it with his playing style as a very physical runner.

How much he can add going forward in terms of being a pass-catcher will be interesting to see. If he can add that to his arsenal he could be an even bigger weapon.

Here’s what the NFL Network’s Lance Zierlein had to say in evaluating Cody Schrader:

“Ornery and competitive, Schrader’s story arc reads like a Hollywood movie. The sixth-year senior dominated at Truman State before walking on at Missouri and showing he could shine against SEC competition. He’s a stocky short-strider lacking ideal explosiveness but is still a successful outside-zone back due to his vision, decisiveness and fearlessness through the line.

“He’s a volume back more likely to wear a defense down rather than gash them with chunk runs and is a capable pass protector against the blitz. Teams need to weigh the heavy production against average physical tools, but he appears to have a decent shot of becoming an RB2/3 with three-down ability.”