4 reasons why SF 49ers won’t move on from Jimmy Garoppolo
By Peter Panacy
No. 3: SF 49ers have no legitimate on-roster replacements
The Green Bay Packers, who torched the Niners in Week 9, could theoretically move on from their future Hall of Fame quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, sooner than later because of their first-round NFL Draft selection of quarterback Jordan Love.
San Francisco is in no such position.
Kyle Shanahan has two quarterbacks left on his active roster, C.J. Beathard and Nick Mullens. Beathard’s 1-9 starter’s record and career passing numbers towards the very bottom of qualifiers from 2017 and 2018 tell you pretty much everything you need to know about his future prospects. And Beathard is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent next season anyway.
Mullens, who has looked awful in two starts against the Philadelphia Eagles and Packers this season, no longer seems to be that hidden-gem find the Niners discovered as an undrafted free agent back in 2018. A modest-quality backup capable of winning a couple of games in a pinch, perhaps.
But nothing more.
Mullens, a 2021 restricted free agent, could be brought back on the cheap. And it’s feasible San Francisco bridges the gap with Mullens next season, potentially beyond.
Given that Super Bowl window, though, it would be an admission of that window being closed.