Rumors of Zach Wilson to 49ers simply aren't going away

The 49ers continue to be tied to trade rumors with the Jets surrounding embattled quarterback Zach Wilson.

The New York Jets desperately want to trade the No. 2 overall pick from the 2021 NFL Draft, quarterback Zach Wilson.

Wilson, too, wants to be traded in order to secure a fresh start after he flamed out with Gang Green and in the wake of future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers heading to the East Coast.

The problem? it's been difficult for New York to find a trade partner.

Wilson's own failures since being drafted need little introduction. He owns a 57.0 completion percentage over his three-year career with a 23-to-25 touchdown-to-interception ratio, and whatever dysfunction the Jets have had in recent years, it's clear Wilson isn't the answer.

In all likelihood, New York will have to absorb a hefty chunk of Wilson's salary while accepting very little in return by way of a trade, potentially even shipping off some kind of draft capital to finalize a transaction.

So, where do the San Francisco 49ers fit into all of this?

Turns out, they sort of do.

49ers need a backup QB, and Zach Wilson continues to be linked to them

Wilson might have been a possible target for Niners head coach Kyle Shanahan in 2021, who ultimately chose now-Dallas Cowboys quarterback Trey Lance, another flameout from a now-infamous draft class at the position.

But San Francisco ultimately lucked out with Brock Purdy, the very last pick of the 2022 draft who has now emerged as an MVP-contending quarterback in a very short amount of time.

Purdy and the 49ers already lost one of last year's backups, Sam Darnold, in free agency to the Minnesota Vikings. And despite re-signing third-string signal-caller Brandon Allen to a one-year deal, Shanahan and Purdy need another viable option to support the depth chart under center.

But Wilson?

According to Sportsnaut's Vincent Frank, who does have reliable sources, the Niners are indeed possible trade contenders for Wilson:

San Francisco does have a pipeline to the Jets because of head coach Robert Saleh, Shanahan's former defensive coordinator with the 49ers from 2017 through 2020.

And while the rumor is nothing more than that at the moment, it still doesn't address the question of whether or not the Niners would be wise to take on Wilson as a reserve to Purdy. If anything, it'd probably be smarter to onboard a veteran presence who'd be a much more reliable stopgap in case San Francisco's starter suffered any sort of injury this season.

But that's a debate for Shanahan and his staff.

In the meantime, until something else happens, it's likely those rumors about Wilson to the 49ers won't go away anytime soon.

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