5 quarterbacks to consider if SF 49ers pull plug on Jimmy Garoppolo

SF 49ers Candidate No. 5: Nick Mullens

The first option is certainly the easiest if San Francisco decides to move on from Jimmy Garoppolo in 2021: Nick Mullens.

True, Mullens is a restricted free agent this offseason, although retaining him on what would likely be nothing more than a first-round tender worth $3.095 million is a proverbial “drop in the bucket” compared to what Garoppolo would make next season.

And that would free up the SF 49ers to use that extra cap space to re-sign some notable free agents, likely players like left tackle Trent Williams and fullback Kyle Juszczyk, while getting ready for what are likely to be massive extensions for linebacker Fred Warner and EDGE Nick Bosa down the road.

In his four years at the pro level, Mullens owns a 4-6 record and had a 90.1 passer rating entering the Week 8 debacle against the Seahawks, his second time relieving Garoppolo this season. Even though it was garbage time, Mullens managed 238 yards passing with two touchdowns in Seattle, albeit against the league’s worst pass defense entering the game.

Granted, Mullens isn’t going to be a long-term solution for the SF 49ers either, potentially a stopgap measure to allow Kyle Shanahan and the front office to better identify someone to be brought aboard, likely by way of the draft or down the road in free agency.

Even if he’s a mere placeholder, there’s a good chance Mullens winds up being the No. 1 option for San Francisco if Garoppolo is gone next year.