The 49ers are expected to make serious changes to the quarterback depth chart behind Brock Purdy this offseason.
The San Francisco 49ers employed a four-player depth chart at quarterback in 2024.
Leading the charge, of course, was Brock Purdy under center, who started all but two games (injury related) and enjoyed modest success despite the Niners finishing with a disappointing 6-11 campaign.
For those who can't recall, that depth chart looked like this:
- Brock Purdy
- Brandon Allen
- Joshua Dobbs
- Tanner Mordecai (practice squad)
While Purdy's future is contingent upon what kind of contract extension he receives this offseason (if one at all, since he's under contract through 2025), San Francisco still has some figuring out to do when it comes to the rest of the depth chart.
Of note, both Allen and Dobbs are unrestricted free agents, and there are reasons to suspect neither will return to the Bay Area this offseason.
In Dobbs' case, a report suggested he was frustrated with the fact Allen began the year ahead on the depth chart despite the former showing more playmaking ability during the preseason competition:
SOURCE: “He’s bitter and feels like he won the competition. He’s moving on.”#49ers UFA QB Josh Dobbs plans to play elsewhere in 2025. He felt he won the QB competition but “locker room politics” led to Allen being the backup.
— 49ers & NFL News 24/7 (@49ersSportsTalk) February 3, 2025
He will be seeking a QB2 role elsewhere. #NFL pic.twitter.com/AFPtXTBqGD
It's important to note Dobbs started the 49ers' regular-season finale, a Week 18 loss to the Arizona Cardinals, which suggested he surpassed Allen on the depth chart after the latter's own lackluster start earlier in the year against the Green Bay Packers.
Nevertheless, it appears as if both will be gone this offseason.
49ers may turn to veteran QBs to back up Brock Purdy
Mordecai remains an X-factor on the depth chart and could be in the mix for the QB3 role in year two after going undrafted in 2024.
However, it's understandable a win-now Niners team would prefer someone with exceptionally more experience then Mordecai, should injury problems arise with Purdy in the upcoming year.
Veteran journeyman Joe Flacco's name has been tossed around already, and the same outlet that reported Dobbs' frustrations also shared Andy Dalton as another experienced signal-caller whom San Francisco could target.
Related story: Could the 49ers actually have a 40-year-old QB back up Brock Purdy?
In such a scenario, the 49ers could deploy a 53-man roster with the following three quarterbacks on the depth chart:
- Brock Purdy
- Joe Flacco or Andy Dalton
- Tanner Mordecai
One might expect the Niners to sign a rookie UDFA signal-caller following the 2025 NFL Draft, too.
Either way, don't be surprised if Purdy's backups appear notably different this upcoming season than they did last year.