4 free-agent quarterbacks 49ers can target to push Trey Lance

49ers mentor for Trey Lance No. 1: Ryan Fitzpatrick

On injured reserve with the Washington Football Team right now, it’s hard to guess what the future holds for veteran quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, whose injury opened up the door for Washington to start Taylor Heinicke down the stretch.

Perhaps the Football Team sticks with Heinicke into 2022 or elects to grab a rookie draftee, it’s anyone’s guess. But the safe bet seems to be Fitzpatrick, who just turned 39 years old, makes his way to yet another franchise in what could be the final year of his provocative career.

Maybe even as a 49ers backup.

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa offered up endorsements for Fitzpatrick as a mentor back in March of 2021. And while Tagovailoa hasn’t physically shown that mentorship paid off, the words do mean something.

What might be more important, though, is Fitzpatrick still has the aura of being a winning-caliber quarterback, something the Niners hopefully wouldn’t need to call upon in the event of Trey Lance suffering some kind of injury.

But a good insurance policy just in case, in addition to the need for some veteran presence to help further Lance’s maturation.