Of the past three seasons, 2024 was not the best one for the San Francisco 49ers.
The same could be said for their quarterback, Brock Purdy.
Purdy's numbers were down from the previous year in a number of categories. He threw for less yards and touchdowns while throwing more interceptions. The signal-caller's completion percentage also saw a dip.
In a league where teams have shown little to no patience for underperforming hurlers, it is a viable suggestion the Niners at least explore options elsewhere at quarterback.
Purdy is expected to play out the final year of his rookie contract entering 2025. The front office has yet to buy into him for the long term as an extension has not been offered, although the latest chatter suggests San Francisco will do so.
If the 49ers brought in one of these aforementioned options to replace Purdy, they could use other salary cap space and their respectable level of draft capital to replenish the roster.
Especially if Purdy's asking price falls beyond the Niners' comfort level.
With the offseason approaching, a number of options are out there.
Here are four strong candidates who could ultimately replace Purdy in San Francisco if it comes to that.
1. Zach Wilson
The Bo Nix era has officially begun in Denver for the Broncos, who appear to have found their franchise quarterback.
Their backup, Zach Wilson, is still young and hungry to start for a team in the league after being selected No. 2 overall back in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Before the New York Jets moved on from the second overall pick, he had his best season of the three in 2023. His completion percentage finally broke the 60-percent mark then.
Wilson threw for 2,271 yards and eight touchdowns, and it was his first year he found the end zone more than opposing defenders.
Denver's backup will turn 26 years old before the new season starts. With established targets like tight end George Kittle and wide receivers, Deebo Samuel and Jauan Jennings, a Niners edition of Wilson would reap the benefits, statistically, of being a game manager rather than a hero.
Factor in the development of 2024 rookie wideout Ricky Pearsall in addition to the returns of offensive weapons like Christian McCaffrey and Brandon Aiyuk, the 49ers should give Wilson a look.
2. Justin Fields
The 2021 draft turned out a number of starting-caliber quarterbacks, but not all teams had the patience to watch them grow.
Just ask Wilson. And a former Chicago Bears top-pick quarterback can also enter the chat on this one.
Enter Justin Fields.
He was traded a year ago to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The AFC North juggernauts overturned their entire quarterback room as they dismissed all three of their incumbents, bringing aboard Fields and former Broncos and Seattle Seahawks signal-caller Russell Wilson.
The Steelers have shown very little loyalty to Fields since, though. This may be the opening for San Francisco to lure the former Ohio State Buckeye to the Bay Area.
Fields will turn 26 years old ahead of the 2025 draft. A pair of his best games for Pittsburgh came in three-point losses.
In five straight games, Fields netted a passer rating of 91 or higher including a 104 rating on the road against the Indianapolis Colts. He threw for five touchdowns and just one pick in 2024 before landing behind Wilson on the depth chart.
The season before, Fields threw 16 scores and nine interceptions. With a loaded offense like the one the 49ers possess, the fourth-year veteran could be a better and more affordable quarterback than Purdy.
Notably of a different ilk than Purdy. Fields scored almost half as many rushing touchdowns (eight) as he did throwing touchdowns (17) in 2022.
Fields is young enough to be groomed into a franchise quarterback. After all, it took more than two teams for veteran signal-callers like Baker Mayfield and Geno Smith to find their bearings as legitimate starters in the league.
3. Jameis Winston
On the atttributes of positive energy and locker room charisma, the former overall pick of the 2015 NFL Draft should win the starting gig on merit alone.
Jameis Winston played for his third team this season. In 2019, he threw for the most yards (5,109) and touchdowns (33) in the league while unfortunately also throwing the most picks (30).
For the Cleveland Browns, Wintson recorded 2,121 yards while scoring 13 touchdowns. His turnovers are still an issue as he threw 12 more interceptions on the season.
If Purdy is not the answer, Winston can provide a few solutions for the 49ers. In his rookie season, he tallied six rushing touchdowns.
He is more mobile of a quarterback than Purdy, yet Winston would have to cut down on giving up possessions via costly throws.
However, the former Florida State Seminole could be the spark plug to re-energize the 49ers offense. San Francisco wouldn't have to spend an arm and a leg on Winston to get him, either.
4. Drew Lock
Another former Bronco and Seahawk, the 6-foot-4 Drew Lock of the New York Giants has been in the league since 2019 and will turn 29 years old before the end of next season.
Though he may not give the 49ers as many years as Purdy could, Lock has given us performances over the years to show he is worth the gander.
He had a completion percentage of more than 73 in Weeks 17 and 18. His only win of the season saw his team outscore the Colts 45-33 in a back-and-forth battle.
Lock only missed six of his 23 throws and accumulated 309 yards. He threw for four touchdowns in against the Colts as well.
Previous to this game, Lock was sacked a total of 11 times in the three games prior. He was sacked six times by the Cowboys during the Thanksgiving game.
Lock's best season came in 2020 with Denver where he racked up 2,933 yards, 16 touchdowns but had 15 interceptions.
Thus, if the 49ers can provide better pass protection, Lock has shown he can connect with his receivers in the bulk.
Should the 49ers move on from Purdy, the former second-round pick might be a hidden gem like Smith, Mayfield or Sam Darnold who simply needed to find the right home and context.