With Trey Lance poised to take over as the 49ers’ starting quarterback next season, Niner Noise looks at some potential options to sign as the backup.
With a painful 20-17 loss in the NFC Championship game now in the books, the San Francisco 49ers must now look to the future next season.
Incumbent quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo will almost certainly be traded to provide some healthy cap relief, and Trey Lance will take over the helm.
That’s right, it’s the Lance era now for San Francisco. Lance will bring a lower floor but a higher ceiling to the position, and his play has undoubtedly improved as the 2021 season went on.
But with Lance moving up to the starting role, someone must now back him up, who won’t be Garoppolo if he’s traded on. The free agency market for a starting quarterback is exceptionally thin this offseason, but there is a bit of a market for potential backups on the way.
As Niners fans have learned a lot from previous seasons, a good backup quarterback is a must for any team. To have a chance of salvaging a season, you need someone who can take over if needed for a few games.
As Lance is a young, raw talent at the position, San Francisco would do best to bring in a veteran presence who can steer the ship if needed.
Luckily there are quite a few players who can be brought in.
Niner Noise will look at five potential candidates to back up Lance, backing up the pros and cons of bringing in that particular quarterback to the team.
Let’s take a look at the first quarterback on that particular list.
49ers Backup Quarterback No. 1: Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks
Geno Smith has been a bust as far as a potential franchise quarterback is concerned, but he’s one of the better backups in the NFL.
Smith played very well when Seattle Seahawks signal-caller Russell Wilson was injured this season, completing 68.4 percent of his passes while throwing five touchdowns to only one interception. His ability to steady the ship for the Seahawks is precisely what the 49ers will be looking for in a backup.
There are some doubts with Smith, however. Historically, he’s been very careless with the football and could very well be a one-season wonder. The Niners have had enough problems with turnovers at quarterback anyway.
One problem the 49ers may have luring him over to San Francisco, however, is the uncertainty facing the Seahawks right now. Wilson is once again the target of trade rumors, and Smith may have a shot to start for the Seahawks if Wilson moves on.
If Smith does decide to leave via free agency, however, he may be one of the better value names out there as far as a No. 2 quarterback is concerned.
49ers Backup Quarterback No. 2: Marcus Mariota, Las Vegas Raiders
Exactly what new Las Vegas Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels has in mind at quarterback is a mystery at this point.
Current starting quarterback Derek Carr managed to lead the Raiders out of nowhere to a playoff spot after former head coach Jon Gruden was let go, so it would be safe to assume Carr gets one more season at the helm at least.
The Raiders also have one of the best backup quarterbacks in the NFL in Marcus Mariota, who’s hitting free agency.
That’s where the 49ers are most interested.
Mariota has been somewhat of a bust as a No. 2 overall draft pick back in 2015, but he has shown to be a capable quarterback at times as a starter.
Mariota hasn’t played much in the past two seasons either, which could help the Niners get him for cheap. If Mariota can join for less than expected, that would be a big coup.
Mariota’s starting days may be behind him, but the 49ers can still swoop on the market and have him be a reliable presence for Trey Lance.
49ers Backup Quarterback No. 3: Ryan Fitzpatrick, Washington Football Team
Ryan Fitzpatrick simply had to be on this list when discussing potential backup quarterbacks, it’s pretty much set into United States law that he has to play for all 32 teams before he retires.
While still on injured reserve right now after suffering a dislocation to his hip, the fact Fitzpatrick suffered the injury in Week 1 means he has the best possible chance to be 100 percent for the 2022 season opener.
Sometimes the antics have overshadowed the man himself. Well known for his extroverted and sometimes eccentric behavior, it often hides the fact he’s been a very strong spot starter in the NFL.
Fitzpatrick has also been praised for his mentorship abilities with younger quarterbacks and has been a cult hero no matter where he’s played.
He’s never been a superstar, but he’s always carried himself well as a veteran journeyman who can help out wherever he’s needed.
Trey Lance is still very young, Fitzpatrick could be precisely the sort of calm influence he needs.
49ers Backup Quarterback No. 4: Nick Mullens, Cleveland Browns
A reunion? Don’t necessarily rule it out, as Nick Mullens does bring a few things to the table that other quarterbacks don’t have.
The most obvious trait Mullens has is his familiarity with the 49ers offense. While the team adds some more quarterback runs when Lance is under center, Mullens knows the bread and butter of the Niners system.
He’s well-liked and a hard worker, and already has chemistry with players like tight end George Kittle and wide receiver Deebo Samuel. Mullens is also likely to come cheap, as he won’t be a big name in free agency.
Read More: Jimmy Garoppolo leaves behind a mixed legacy with 49ers
He is limited in what he can do, but he’s shown he can do enough to carry the team for a few games if an injury does happen.
Also, don’t expect Mullens to be someone to take San Francisco deep into the playoffs if a worst-case scenario happens.
But as far as backups go, a little familiarity could go a long way. A Mullens-49ers reunion does make a lot of sense.
49ers Backup Quarterback No. 5: Tyrod Taylor, Houston Texans
Arguably the best backup quarterback right now in the NFL, Tyrod Taylor is a backup capable of generating confidence in being able to lead a team to the playoffs if the situation is right.
With the 49ers running game, receiving weapons and strong defense, that situation is about as good as it gets for Taylor.
Taylor is a former Pro Bowler that’s been able to steer the ship for the Los Angeles Chargers and Houston Texans while they’ve been blooding young quarterbacks (for Justin Herbert and Davis Mills. He’s been able to lead a team in the right circumstances, too, so if worst comes to worst, he can be a dependable starter still.
But that’s also perfect for the 49ers. They don’t need a long-term answer. They need a backup who can be a stopgap, and Taylor is the perfect candidate for that.
Taylor doesn’t have the legs that he used to, but he still has similar style to Lance that would allow him to use the Niners playbook in its entirety.
The only problem may be money and opportunity. Teams may want to sign Taylor with a promised starter role, and even as a backup, he would cost a relative large amount of money.
But in terms of fit, Taylor would be the best possible signing for San Francisco.