C.J. Beathard: What the future holds for 49ers backup quarterback
By Peter Panacy
With the San Francisco 49ers set at quarterback with Jimmy Garoppolo, 2017 rookie C.J. Beathard faces an unheralded but crucial role as the backup. But then what?
The Super Bowl LII-winning Philadelphia Eagles proved why it’s so important to have a quality backup quarterback. After losing MVP candidate Carson Wentz to a season-ending knee injury late in 2017, veteran backup Nick Foles managed to lead the Eagles all the way past the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl en route to a game MVP award himself.
Yeah, a backup quarterback is pretty important.
For the San Francisco 49ers, the table appears to be set, even if Super Bowl aspirations may be a ways off.
San Francisco 49ers
No. 1 QB Jimmy Garoppolo has been the talk of the Niners’ offseason. After inking a record-setting five-year, $137.5 million deal, prospects for a great 49ers future haven’t been brighter in a long, long time.
But what about Garoppolo’s backup, C.J. Beathard?
Beathard has the advantage being the first signal-caller taken by head coach Kyle Shanahan. According to NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco, Beathard was the only quarterback Shanahan wanted in the 2017 NFL Draft.
If we were graded on toughness alone, Beathard would have received an A-plus. A questionable 49ers offensive line over the course of last year, combined with less-than-desirable pocket awareness, meant Beathard took his fare share of lumps under center before relinquishing starting duties to Garoppolo in Week 12.
C.J. Beathard’s Long-Term Future
Barring injury, Beathard won’t get these back anytime soon. And while it’s a good thing for the Niners to have their backup situation set for the foreseeable future, how long will it stay that way?
To get an idea, let’s look at the comparison Shanahan made between Beathard and soon-to-be former Washington Redskins quarterback, Kirk Cousins, with whom Shanahan worked back as an offensive coordinator when Cousins was drafted in 2012.
Beathard reminded Shanahan of Cousins, per this ESPN report. And Shanahan later admitted it was his goal to draft, develop and trade Cousins, who was playing the backup role to then-Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III.
The same path for Beathard? All but guaranteed.
San Francisco has Beathard under contract through 2020. Teams rarely trade for players heading into, or amid, contract years. But as was the case with Garoppolo and the 49ers, nothing is out of the question.
We have no clue how the league’s quarterback market will look between now and then. Yet it would be a solid idea for Shanahan and Co. to build up whatever hype Beathard ends up possessing. It’s not a lot right now, but hence the “draft and develop” part Shanahan hoped for with Cousins.
A guess would have Beathard maintaining that backup role through 2019, possibly moved depending how high his stock grows and what the needs around the league may be.
Next: 3 biggest questions facing the 49ers this offseason
Until then, the Niners’ backup quarterback situation is set nicely.