SF 49ers final 53-man roster projection ahead of Week 1

SF 49ers Quarterbacks (3)

Jimmy Garoppolo

Nick Mullens

CJ Beathard

In previous editions of this article, I have attempted to give third-string quarterback C.J. Beathard the boot, both completely off the team and onto this season’s expanded and veteran-friendly practice squad.

But given the current situation surrounding the NFL and COVID-19 and the fact that any cut players would still be subject to waivers, it makes sense that Beathard gets to finish his tenure as a 49er as part of the active roster.

Under normal circumstances, a second year in a row of having three quarterbacks would be ridiculous, but the fact of the matter is Beathard would get snatched up on waivers immediately because, for all his faults, he’s a known quantity. Something you can’t say about a lot of the quarterbacks on the open market or coming into camps as undrafted rookies.

So as much as I believe Beathard will be using up a very valuable roster spot, his presence is more necessary in this strange season than it has been in years past.

That said, he should be entrenched as the team’s third option and inactive on game days, with starter Jimmy Garoppolo locked in and Nick Mullens having proven to be a better option behind Garoppolo than Beathard.

If the 49ers get a feeling they could stash Beathard on the practice squad, then that makes more sense. But it feels more likely he’s on the 53-man roster again in 2020.