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San Francisco 49ers: Quarterback Options for Head Coach Chip Kelly in 2016

By Peter Panacy

Dec 26, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles head coach Chip Kelly during the fourth quarter against the Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field. The Redskins defeated the Eagles, 38-24. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 26, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles head coach Chip Kelly during the fourth quarter against the Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field. The Redskins defeated the Eagles, 38-24. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 15, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel (2) warms up before playing the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 15, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel (2) warms up before playing the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

Grabbing a QB via Free Agency or a Trade

2016 Free-Agent Quarterbacks

Another possibility the 49ers could explore this offseason is landing a quarterback either via free agency or a trade.

Head coach Chip Kelly made plenty of splashes last offseason — primarily his trade of quarterback Nick Foles to the St. Louis Rams in exchange for fellow QB Sam Bradford. But that was when Kelly had control over the roster. He doesn’t now.

Still, the 49ers could be viewing the free-agent market or the trading block as a potential option.

The 2016 free-agent class at the position is awfully thin. Granted, the 49ers will have a ton of cap space with which to work this offseason and could, essentially, pay whatever cost. But free agents like Bradford, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Matt Hasslebeck and Drew Stanton don’t exactly inspire a lot of confidence.

Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins may be the most intriguing out of the group here. But with Washington’s situation with fellow QB Robert Griffin III, it’s hard to imagine the Redskins not re-signing Cousins to a long-term deal.

Is Griffin a thought? Not likely. And the likely soon-to-be-made-available quarterback Johnny Manziel isn’t much of one either.

So free agency and/or a trade don’t look to be options for Kelly.

Unless we’re totally missing something here.

Next: The NFL Draft