49ers: 10 Worst Quarterbacks in Franchise History

[caption id="attachment_66255" align="aligncenter" width="590"] Football: San Francisco 49ers QB Alex Smith (11) in action vs Arizona Cardinals at Candlestick Park. San Francisco, CA 11/20/2011 CREDIT: Peter Read Miller (Photo by Peter Read Miller /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images) (Set Number: X86630 TK1 R1 F442 )[/caption]rn Niner Noise takes a look at 10 of the San Francisco 49ers worst quarterbacks in franchise history. From notable names to completely forgettable ones, we talk about the good, the bad and the ugly (mostly bad). rnThe San Francisco 49ers have had some bad quarterbacks throughout its history. Not everyone is a Joe Montana or a Steve Young, and finding those types of QBs is no easy task, the players on this list prove that.rnrn A bad quarterback can set a team back years and, in the 49ers case, put them into a decade of losing. rnrn Without further delay, let’s take a look at 10 of the worst QB’s in franchise history. rnrn[nextpost teaser="No. 10 Alex Smith" slider="true"]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_66256" align="aligncenter" width="590"] SAN FRANCISCO, CA - NOVEMBER 20: Alex Smith[/caption]rnrn No. 10 rnrn Alex Smith rnrn 2005-2012 rnrn rnrnYes, Alex Smith is one of the worst QB’s in franchise history..rnrnLet that sink in for a bit.rnrnThink about it, Smith was taken as the first overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft. He was coming in to be the next great QB for a storied franchise that was used to one thing. Winning.rnrnSmith was notably taken over current Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers. Coming out of California University, many expected the 49ers to take the local boy. However, they selected Smith in hopes that he could continue the tradition of winning with the 49ers.rnrnAs a No. 1 overall pick, you can imagine the expectations the franchise put on Smith. In his seven seasons with the 49ers he only managed to play in all 16 games twice and only threw for over 2,500 yards twice.rnrnDo you think he met those expectations? Not a chance.rnrnThe 49ers traded Smith to the Kansas City Chiefs prior to the 2013 season where he has sort of resurrected his career. However, as a 49er, he absolutely deserves to be on this list.rnrn[nextpost teaser="No. 9 Steve DeBerg" slider="true"]rnrn rnrnhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sugt5CuNvxErnrn No. 9 rnrn Steve DeBerg rnrn 1977-1980 rnrn rnrnAfter being selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the 10th Round of the 1977 NFL Draft, quarterback Steve DeBerg was waived by the Cowboys before the season began and signed to the 49ers practice squad.rnrnDuring his tenure with the 49ers, DeBerg finished with a 7-28 record as a starter. He did, however, lead the NFL in attempts in 1979 with 578 but, in doing so, also threw 21 interceptions.rnrnIn the 1979 NFL Draft, head coach Bill Walsh selected Notre Dame QB Joe Montana. Montana quickly became the starter, ultimately pushing Deberg to back up duties where he was later traded to the Denver Broncos in 1981.rnrn[nextpost teaser="No. 8 Cody Pickett" slider="true"]rnrn rnrnhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAAAWpJ-2ZYrnrn No. 8 rnrn Cody Pickett rnrn 2004-2005 rnrn rnrnQuarterback Cody Pickett was selected by the 49ers in the seventh round of the 2004 NFL Draft, and he entered the 2005 season as the fourth-string QB. Pickett became the starter after a slew of injuries to fellow signal-callers Alex Smith and Ken Dorsey, as well as Tim Rattay being traded.rnrnPickett’s stats with the 49ers consist of 195 yards passing, zero touchdowns and four interceptions. Smith became healthy and Pickett faded away, later being traded to the Houston Texans in 2006.rnrn[nextpost teaser="No. 7 Jim Plunkett" slider="true"]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_55469" align="aligncenter" width="590"] January 21, 2016; Stanford, CA, USA; Stanford Cardinal former quarterbacks Jim Plunkett (left) and Andrew Luck (right) pose for a photo during the second half against the Arizona Wildcats at Maples Pavilion. The Wildcats defeated the Cardinal 71-57. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports[/caption]rnrn No. 7 rnrn Jim Plunkett rnrn 1976-1977 rnrn rnrnOne might say, “how can a former Super Bowl MVP make this list”? Easy, former 49ers quarterback Jim Plunkett didn’t do it in a red and gold jersey.rnrnPlunkett was traded from the New England Patriots to the 49ers in 1976. Plunkett came at one hefty price tag -- the 49ers gave up two first-round picks in 1976 as well as a first- and second-round pick in 1977. Yes, three first-round selections!rnrnFor that price, he was clearly viewed as the future of the franchise. However, he was far from that. In the two seasons he played, Plunkett managed to throw for a measly 3,285 yards, 22 touchdowns, 30 interceptions and finished with record of 11-15 as a starter.rnrnHe was released by the 49ers during the 1978 preseason.rnrn[nextpost teaser="No. 6 Trent Dilfer" slider="true"]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_53602" align="aligncenter" width="590"] Nov 16, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; ESPN broadcaster Trent Dilfer on the Monday Night Football Set at Paul Brown Stadium. The Texans won 10-6. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports[/caption]rnrn No. 6 rnrn Trent Dilfer rnrn 2006-2007 rnrn rnrnJourneyman quarterback Trent Dilfer entered the NFL in 1994 after being drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He had stints with the Baltimore Ravens (where he won a Super Bowl), Seattle Seahawks and the Cleveland Browns before landing with the 49ers in 2006.rnrnHis purpose with the 49ers was to serve as mentor for newly acquired QB Alex Smith. But in 2007, when Smith went down with a shoulder injury, Dilfer became the starting QB. In the six games he started for the 49ers, he had a record of 1-5, where he threw for seven touchdowns and 12 interceptions.rnrnNear the end of that year, Dilfer suffered a concussion, ending his season. This caused third string QB Shaun Hill to takeover the starting role.rnrnDilfer retired from the NFL in 2008.rnrn[nextpost teaser="No. 5 Chris Weinke" slider="true"]rnrn rnrnhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPfuFfCnAasrnrn No. 5 rnrn Chris Weinke rnrn 2007 rnrn rnrnFormer Seminoles quarterbacking great Chris Weinke was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in 2001 and served as back up to Jake Delhomme until 2006. As a Panther, when Weinke started, his teams lost 17 consecutive games.rnrnAfter starting 5-10 and enduring injuries to all three QB’s on the roster, the 49ers looked to Weinke for help. They signed Weinke and he started the final game of the 2007 season for the Niners, where he led them to another loss.rnrnThe 49ers did not resign Weinke in the offseason and he retired from the NFL.rnrn[nextpost teaser="No. 4 Ken Dorsey" slider="true"]rnrn rnrnhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFhqiTecnFornrn No. 4 rnrn Ken Dorsey rnrn 2003-2005 rnrn rnrnQuarterback Ken Dorsey was drafted by the 49ers in the Round 7 of the 2003 NFL Draft.rnrnDorsey started in 10 games in his two seasons with the 49ers, finishing with a 2-8 record. In 2005, he started the season as the third-string QB behind Tim Rattay and Alex Smith. While with the 49ers, he threw for 1712 yards, eight touchdowns and 11 interceptions.rnrnAfter showing the 49ers that he was not the answer, he was traded with a seventh-round pick to the Cleveland Browns for QB Trent Dilfer.rnrn[nextpost teaser="No. 3 J.T. O'Sullivan" slider="true"]rnrn rnrnhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pJ3Ci-LKvsrnrn No. 3 rnrn J.T. O'Sullivan rnrn 2008 rnrn rnrn After Mike Martz was named the offensive coordinator for the 49ers in 2008, the team signed quarterback J.T. O’Sullivan, who previously played under Martz. It was supposed to be a good connection -- a good offensive mind with a QB who understood the system and could be plugged right in and contribute. rnrnThis was not the case.rnrnO’Sullivan started the first eight games of the 2008 season, leading the 49ers to a 2-6 record before being benched by then-new head coach Mike Singletary. In those eight games, O’Sullivan threw for 1678 yards, eight touchdowns and 11 interceptions.rnrnAt the time of his benching, O’Sullivan led the NFL in fumbles and interceptions. He never appeared in another game for the remainder of the season and was released.rnrn[nextpost teaser="No. 2 Jim Druckenmiller" slider="true"]rnrn rnrnhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9DGblm4vbMrnrn No. 2 rnrn Jim Druckenmiller rnrn 1997-1998 rnrn rnrnQuarterback Jim Druckenmiller was selected by the 49ers as the 26th overall pick in the 1997 NFL Draft. He was believed to be the successor to Steve Young.rnrnHead coach Steve Mariucci even said (h/t John Jay Fox of the Morning Call ), “I would like to think he’s our quarterback of the future,”rnrnAfter Young suffered a hand injury in Week 1 of the 1997 season, Druckenmiller was the starter for Week 2. As the starter, he completed 10 of 27 passes and threw three interceptions. He appeared in only five more games through the 1998 season.rnrnDruckenmiller threw for 239 yards, one touchdown and four interceptions during his career with the 49ers.rnrnIn 1999, Druckenmiller was traded to the Miami Dolphins for a conditional draft choice. He didn’t appear in a regular season game for the Dolphins.rnrnDruckenmiller was named as the 11th biggest draft bust since the NFL/AFL merger by ESPN in 2008.rnrn[nextpost teaser="No. 1 Giovanni Carmazzi" slider="true"]rnrn rnrnhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjXp7y3eORgrnrn No. 1 rnrn Giovanni Carmazzi rnrn 2000-2001 rnrn rnrnIn the 2000 NFL Draft, quarterback Gio Carmazzi was selected by the 49ers in the third round. He was the second QB taken in this draft. Many thought Carmazzi to be the successor to Steve Young.rnrnGeneral manager Bill Walsh was known for grooming Hall of Fame QBs and, when he selected Carmazzi, the future looked bright. The 49ers also selected QB Tim Rattay in the seventh round of the same draft and, when Rattay beat out Carmazzi for the backup role is when things went south.rnrn[recentposts]rnrnCarmazzi never appeared in a regular-season game in the NFL and is the highest picked QB ever to achieve that feat. Carmazzi is often labeled as one of the biggest draft busts of all time, not only because he never even threw a pass in a regular-season game, but also because he was one of the few misses of Walsh.rnrnYou add that up, and the fact that he was also selected ahead of Michigan QB Tom Brady, Carmazzi is the worst QB in 49ers franchise history.rnrn rnrn[subscribe]rnrn[nextpost teaser="Why Fans Should Be Talking About 49ers DB Jimmie Ward" url="https://ninernoise.com/2016/06/06/jimmie-ward-fans-talking-49ers-db/"]rnrn All records, statistics and accolades courtesy of Pro Football Reference unless otherwise indicated.

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San Francisco 49ers: 10 Worst Quarterbacks in Franchise History

Niner Noise takes a look at 10 of the San Francisco 49ers worst quarterbacks in franchise history. From notable names to completely forgettable ones, we talk about the good, the bad and the ugly (mostly bad).

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