Niner Noise
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Which NFL teams will need a quarterback in 2018?

By Peter Panacy

Nov 29, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) tumbles into the photographers after spiking the ball during the fourth quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium. The Arizona Cardinals defeated the San Francisco 49ers 19-13. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 29, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) tumbles into the photographers after spiking the ball during the fourth quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium. The Arizona Cardinals defeated the San Francisco 49ers 19-13. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 2, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Brian Hoyer (2) prior to a game against the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 2, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Brian Hoyer (2) prior to a game against the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports /

San Francisco 49ers

Quarterbacks on Roster: Brian Hoyer, Matt Barkley, C.J. Beathard, Nick Mullens

The 49ers let former starting quarterbacks Colin Kaepernick and Blaine Gabbert walk in free agency this offseason. And the new regime, consisting of GM John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan, want their guy under center for the foreseeable future.

For now, that role falls on free-agent pickup Brian Hoyer.

Hoyer is a good stopgap option. But at 31 years old, he’s little more than a placeholder until the Niners can bring in someone of long-term value.

C.J. Beathard, taken in Round 3 of the NFL Draft, was apparently the only quarterback Shanahan wanted, according to The MMQB’s Peter King. Beathard is a developmental piece and may be nothing more than a decent backup for the next few years.

If that’s the case, the 49ers will be looking to add another QB in 2018. It’s likely the still-developing Niners will own a high draft pick next year, so that could mean going with that route this offseason.

Or San Francisco could look to bring in pending free-agent quarterback Kirk Cousins, if the Washington Redskins elect not to extend him. Shanahan and Cousins have ties, so there’s that to consider.

At any rate, the Niners’ quarterbacking situation is far from perfect and will likely see changes a year from now.