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49ers vs. Packers: Analyzing quarterback C.J. Beathard’s performance in Week 6

By Peter Panacy

GREEN BAY, WI - OCTOBER 15: C.J. Beathard #3 of the San Francisco 49ers participates in warmups prior to a game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on October 15, 2018 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
GREEN BAY, WI - OCTOBER 15: C.J. Beathard #3 of the San Francisco 49ers participates in warmups prior to a game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on October 15, 2018 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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GREEN BAY, WI – OCTOBER 15: C.J. Beathard #3 of the San Francisco 49ers participates in warmups prior to a game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on October 15, 2018 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
GREEN BAY, WI – OCTOBER 15: C.J. Beathard #3 of the San Francisco 49ers participates in warmups prior to a game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on October 15, 2018 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

So What Do the 49ers Have in C.J. Beathard?

C.J. Beathard isn’t going to somehow strike up a quarterbacking controversy when Jimmy Garoppolo returns from his knee injury in 2019. The former is still a backup, and that will likely be the case next year.

But there are two major takeaways from the second-year pro’s efforts so far this season.

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First, Beathard has shown massive improvement over the inexperienced and gunshy signal-caller we saw in 2017. His accuracy is notably better, he’s far more decisive and has even improved somewhat within the pocket. He’s far from a finished product, but it’s safe to say Beathard is still maturing as a pro-level quarterback.

Second, the better Beathard performs over the course of the season, the better the 49ers’ situation is to possibly trade him down the road at some point.

With Garoppolo only into year one of his five-year contract, Beathard’s stock value can only rise on the trade market. It’s impossible to project just what that quarterback market will look like in, let’s say, two years from now. But keep in mind, now-Oakland Raiders quarterback A.J. McCarron (he has only three starts in his career) was the subject of trade talks that involved a second-round NFL Draft pick back in August of 2017.

It’s possible San Francisco is going to be able to turn its own 2017 third-round investment into something better in 2019 or 2020 depending on how that market shapes up.

At any rate, the 49ers are getting about as good of play from a backup quarterback as could be hoped. Sure, the Niners would be in a far better situation with Garoppolo under center.

Next. 49ers vs. Packers: Position grades & analysis for San Francisco. dark

But at least Beathard is emerging as one of the team’s positives in an otherwise lost season.