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49ers: Top 5 mistakes Lynch and Shanahan made during 2019 roster cuts

By Chris Wilson

SANTA CLARA, CA - OCTOBER 07: Chandler Jones #55 of the Arizona Cardinals strips the ball from C.J. Beathard #3 of the San Francisco 49ers during their NFL game at Levi's Stadium on October 7, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - OCTOBER 07: Chandler Jones #55 of the Arizona Cardinals strips the ball from C.J. Beathard #3 of the San Francisco 49ers during their NFL game at Levi's Stadium on October 7, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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49ers roster cuts 2019 top mistakes
DENVER, CO – AUGUST 19: Outside linebacker Bradley Chubb #55 of the Denver Broncos strips the football away from quarterback C.J. Beathard #3 of the San Francisco 49ers during the second quarter of a preseason game at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on August 19, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) /

No. 1: Keeping 3 QBs on the 49ers’ roster

At this point in his career, Nick Mullens isn’t an NFL-caliber starting quarterback. But there’s no competition between him and C.J. Beathard, no matter what Shanahan tries to sell the media.

Simply put, Shanahan’s quarterback “competition” was a farce. The 49ers’ head coach made sure to give his star pupil every potential chance to win the team’s backup quarterback job — and Shanahan would have gladly declared Beathard the winner if the QB simply showed the slightest bit of progress — but he didn’t.

Keeping three quarterbacks on the 49ers’ roster was a mistake, as was failing to trade one of the two backup QBs when the Denver Broncos inquired. If Shanahan is truly willing to trade a quarterback for a reasonable price, San Francisco is playing a dangerous game of chicken as they pray for the right QB on the right team to injure himself at the right time.

Otherwise, the Niners are stuck with a $1 million scout-team quarterback who is wasting a valuable spot on San Francisco’s 53-man roster, while Lynch ironically complains that the NFL roster limit needs to be expanded.

It doesn’t matter that Beathard has a good — but not great — arm, and it doesn’t matter that he’s the toughest quarterback on the team’s roster; if he can’t work the pocket, throw accurate passes or win football games, then he’s wasting a roster spot that could be used on a player who could potentially contribute to victories in 2019.

Related Story. Breaking down Shanahan's QB "competition". light

Looking ahead, there’s no light at the end of the tunnel for Shanahan and Beathard. If Beathard is forced into action this season, Shanahan’s job will likely be on the line. And if Beathard collects his weekly checks while riding the bench all season, what are Shanahan’s plans for his four-year, one-win QB in 2020?

dark. Next. 49ers' 5 best controversial roster cuts

The past three years have been a learning experience for both John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan. Roster construction is one of the areas the duo can approve upon going forward, in what fans of the San Francisco 49ers hope is a long and fruitful partnership.