Free agency: 5 mistakes SF 49ers must not make in 2021
By Peter Panacy
No. 3: SF 49ers have no need to re-sign Nick Mullens, C.J. Beathard
2020 showed more than enough reason why San Francisco needs a complete revamping of its quarterback room this upcoming year.
Regardless of what the SF 49ers do with their starter, Jimmy Garoppolo, finding would-be upgrades or long-term developmental prospects to round out the depth chart will be vital.
Whatever the moves may be, they need not include pending free-agent quarterbacks Nick Mullens and C.J. Beathard.
Kyle Shanahan has stubbornly stuck by Beathard over the four years of the latter’s rookie contract, which has rewarded the Niners with precisely two wins out of his 12 starts. While no one can deny Beathard’s toughness, there hasn’t been any development with his pocket presence or playmaking abilities.
Even on a cheap veteran’s minimum deal, Beathard isn’t a re-sign candidate.
Mullens, a restricted free agent, is a bit easier to retain. An original-round tender would only cost $2.133 million, which would make some sense for a quality backup signal-caller with experience in the system.
But considering Mullens’ 3.7 interception percentage in 2021 ranked worst in the league, it seems oh-so more logical to pass on such a deal.