McCaffrey shows off his versatilely for NFL scouts

Ex-Cardinal RB shows he’s a very capable receiver

STANFORD — It all felt familiar for Christian McCaffrey, racing underneath passes short, long and intermediate on a field he practiced on for three years at Stanford.

McCaffrey’s goal Thursday was to deliver a message to the 50 or so NFL scouts and coaches in attendance at his Stanford pro day that he can do as much if not more damage as a receiver than he can as a runner.

After leaving the field for a conversation with his father and former NFL player Ed McCaffrey, as well as Carolina coach Ron Rivera, McCaffrey faced the cameras to talk about his day.

“I just think I showed some versatility,” McCaffrey said. “I did all my running back stuff at the combine. Today I really wanted to make sure they knew I can run routes from the slot, I can run routes from the outside, and catch kick and punt returns.

“I just wanted to show them that I really believe I can do anything.”

His numbers at Stanford in his sophomore and junior years attest to that, with 2,019 yards rushing and a 6.0 yards per carry average followed by 1,603 yards and a 6.3 average. But it is his receiving skills — McCaffrey caught 45 passes for 647 yards as a sophomore and 37 for 310 as a junior — that have play-callers salivating.

Included among them Thursday was 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan and Raiders offensive coordinator Todd Downing. Chances are the 49ers are picking too early at No. 2 and the Raiders might be too late at No. 24 to have a shot at McCaffrey, but that doesn’t mean they didn’t enjoy the show

“That’s what makes him valuable,” Shanahan said. “He can do a little bit of everything. Whether it’s special teams or all the skill positions on offense — except quarterback and tight end — he’s got at them all and very versatile.”

As tempting as it is to simply hand the ball to McCaffrey, his skill set as a receiver might be as good as any wideout in the draft.

“I just think I showed some versatility. ... I just wanted to show them that I really believe I can do anything.” — Former Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey

And at 6-foot, 201 pounds, McCaffrey is strong and durable.

It isn’t difficult to envision McCaffrey in a Julian Edelman or Wes Welker role, catching 100 passes a year, rather than rushing it 250 times.

Solomon Thomas’ draft stock probably kept climbing Thursday.

Many mock drafts in the media depict Thomas as a strong option at No. 2 to the 49ers, behind fellow defensive lineman Myles Garrett to the Cleveland Browns at No. 1.

What are Thomas’ best selling points?

“My versatility, my toughness, that I can fit any system, that there’s no better guy than me in this draft,” Thomas replied.

Thomas measured 6foot-3 and 273 pounds at last month’s scouting combine in Indianapolis. He is convinced his versatility will help any team debating whether he is best suited as an interior lineman or as an outside rusher.

“It’s a blessing to be a tweener,” Thomas said. “It’s an advantage to be versatile. It’s an advantage to play in any system. I can play in any system. I can play in a 3-4 or 4-3 (front).

“Whatever team I’m drafted to and whatever they want me to play, I’m going to work on being the best I can be.”

Shanahan agreed that Thomas indeed could be an edge rusher — or the “Leo” — in his defensive system.

“I believe so,” Shanahan said. “He can line up inside anywhere he wants. But I’m not done with my research yet.”

Thomas said he has some private workouts scheduled but none yet with the 49ers or Raiders.