How the 49ers feel about Tanner Mordecai as Brock Purdy's backup will be evidenced by their actions this offseason.
There's a good chance the last time you thought about San Francisco 49ers quarterback Tanner Mordecai was at the tail end of the preseason a year ago when he was getting opportunities late in exhibition games.
Ultimately, the undrafted free-agent pickup from 2024 out of Oklahoma didn't make the 53-man roster and spent his rookie season on the practice squad while Brock Purdy, Joshua Dobbs and Brandon Allen all served as the three rostered quarterbacks over the course of the year.
But the Niners are poised to undergo significant changes at quarterback this offseason, namely the depth chart in light of both Allen and Dobbs poised to hit free agency.
Neither is anticipated to return.
While San Francisco could turn to a veteran signal-caller as Purdy's primary backup, perhaps someone like the aging Joe Flacco, there's a solid chance Mordecai winds up playing a more significant role on the roster than what he experienced in year one.
How the 49ers handle moves at the position this offseason will be a good indicator of how it feels about Mordecai's future.
49ers' offseason moves at QB will dictate how they feel about Tanner Mordecai
If there's one thing that can be said about Mordecai, it's he's experienced.
Over six collegiate seasons between Wisconsin, Oklahoma and SMU, Mordecai compiled nearly 10,000 yards passing with 85 touchdowns thrown over 46 games played.
Year | School | Games | Completions | Attempts | Yards | TDs | INTs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018 | Oklahoma | 2 | 2 | 4 | 37 | 0 | 0 |
2019 | Oklahoma | 6 | 16 | 26 | 207 | 2 | 0 |
2020 | Oklahoma | 4 | 32 | 40 | 395 | 2 | 1 |
2021 | SMU | 12 | 308 | 454 | 3,628 | 39 | 12 |
2022 | SMU | 12 | 288 | 443 | 3,524 | 33 | 10 |
2023 | Wisconsin | 10 | 204 | 314 | 2,066 | 9 | 4 |
Total | 46 | 850 | 1,281 | 9,857 | 85 | 27 |
Some may argue Mordecai would have benefited from declaring for the 2023 NFL Draft after two notable seasons with SMU (including leading college football in 2021 in passing attempts, completions, pass yards and pass touchdowns) instead of transferring to Wisconsin, which did him few favors with a lackluster offense that year.
But, nevertheless, the 25 year old has plenty of reps under center, which jived with the Niners' preference for collegiate-experienced players from their 2024 draft class.
That experience bodes well for Mordecai's future in the Bay Area. But San Francisco's transactions at quarterback may dictate how it feels about said future.
Related story: 5 veteran QBs the 49ers could sign to back up Brock Purdy
Case in point, should the 49ers ink a veteran to support Purdy, Mordecai's likely best-case scenario for 2025 would be as a third-string backup, at least making the 53-man roster but serving as an inactive "emergency" third QB.
Additionally, if the Niners either draft or sign a rookie this April (or a combination of both), it points to the notion of either pushing Mordecai further in competition during training camp or not being wholly sold on the second-year pro.
If there are minimal transactions, it could be a pretty good indication Mordecai winds up being a primary backup to Purdy.
And that would be saying something.
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