Did the 49ers Strike Gold With Khalan Laborn?

The San Francisco 49ers decided not to draft a running back in the 2023 NFL Draft. Instead, the team opted to sign an undrafted free agent, Khalan Laborn of Marshall.

Laborn stands 5’8″, and he’s 198 pounds. At Marshall’s pro day, Laborn ran a 4.44 in the forty-yard dash, had a 38.5″ vertical, jumped 125″ in the broad jump, ran a 4.40 in the shuttle, ran a 6.92 in the three-cone, and bench pressed 23 reps.

Not only did Laborn test well, but the Florida State transfer also had a monstrous senior season at Marshall. Laborn finished 2022 with 303 attempts for 1,535 yards, averaging 5.1 yards per carry. He ran for 16 touchdowns that season but fumbled the ball five times.

Laborn had 38 explosive plays of 10 or more yards with 865 yards after contact in 2022.

As a receiver, Laborn caught 18 passes on 26 targets for 131 yards, averaging 7.3 yards per reception with only one dropped pass. As a pass protector, Laborn allowed nine total pressure in 2022 and 10 throughout his collegiate career without giving up any sacks.

How did Khalan Laborn go undrafted after putting up astounding numbers in college? My guess is that it had to do with the school he played at and the level of competition he faced each game. Luckily, one man’s loss is another man’s treasure. The 49ers may have struck gold with Khalan Laborn.