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Get ready for a barrage of speculation surrounding the San Francisco 49ers quarterback situation and its impact on the upcoming 2023 season. Before Sunday, most expected the QB1 job to be Brock Purdy's to lose. However, Monday's news that the rookie quarterback suffered a complete tear of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his right elbow changed things. He will require surgery and may not be able to throw for the 49ers until training camp.
Jimmy Garoppolo is slated to become a free agent. He suffered a broken foot on December 4 and is still recovering, but he will likely play elsewhere in 2023. So unless the 49ers pursue another veteran—Tom Brady's name may come up once or twice—third-year quarterback Trey Lance, the No. 3 overall pick in 2021, may now be the frontrunner for the starting job.
Many had figured there would be an exciting quarterback competition this off-season in Santa Clara, but it doesn't look like that will happen now that Purdy will be sidelined.
ESPN's Mina Kimes sees Brady as a possibility, assuming the future Hall of Fame quarterback is willing to play for significantly less money in 2023. However, she believes Lance will be the 49ers' starter when the new season kicks off.
"I'm going to pick Lance," Kimes said on ESPN's First Take. "Not because I think it's necessarily what they should do or even what people in San Francisco want to do, but it seems the most plausible of the three [options] because of health, cap space, and the amount of investment they've already sunk into him."
In 2021, the 49ers traded their 2021, 2022, and 2023 first-round picks and a 2022 third-rounder to the Miami Dolphins to move up to the No. 3 spot to select Lance. Kimes believes that hefty investment will be a factor in any off-season decision.
However, the reporter's projection would have been different in a perfect world with everyone healthy.
"I think, ideally, if you're a Niners fan," Kimes continued, "after watching this team that was clearly a Super Bowl roster, fell because of a lack of a quarterback, and seeing your quarterbacks suffer through so many injuries, you'd probably want Brady, who [has], of course, been relatively durable, is the greatest of all time. But you'd have to get him to sign a very team-friendly deal to do so. I think, if I was a Niners fan, that's what I would want."
With the 2024 NFL Draft less than two weeks away, NFL Media draft analyst Chad Reuter recently identified the ideal top two draft picks for each team. The San Francisco 49ers have 10 selections in the upcoming draft, with their first two picks at No. 31 overall and No. 63.
Reuter noted, "I kept some semblance of realism in this process, however, assigning each player only once and making reasonable projections of where prospects may be selected."
Who are the standout picks for the 49ers? Reuter envisions the team addressing both offense and defense with their initial selections. It's widely anticipated that San Francisco will bolster its offensive line with
George Kittle hopes 49ers offense can 'take another step forward'
By David Bonilla
Apr 12
George Kittle recently spoke with ESPN during the Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia, where he joined other NFL stars for the golfing event. Of course, the conversation shifted toward football, with Laura Rutledge asking Kittle to reflect on the team's 2023 season, its Super Bowl defeat, and the motivation it provides for the upcoming season.
The tight end believes San Francisco maintained a competitive roster this offseason and is gearing up for another run at a championship. He emphasized the importance of maintaining good health and continual improvement for a successful upcoming season.
"Brock Purdy is a fantastic quarterback, and he's only going to get better because he's young," Kittle said. "And we were fortunate enough to be able to keep our entire
Six worst first-round draft picks in 49ers' history
By Marc Adams
Apr 13
It is less than two weeks away from the 2024 NFL Draft, and the San Francisco 49ers finally have a first-round draft pick, after not having one the last two years. Who will they select? Will it be a defensive player? An offensive player? They could use help on the offensive line and in the secondary and defensive line. And they may also have multiple holes to fill a year from now.
Either way, the 49ers need to hit on these draft picks, especially in the early rounds, where they haven't always been at their best. John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan have some first-round misses, like DT Solomon Thomas and LB Rueben Foster. But are those the worst first-round picks in team history? Neither made this list, though some will argue that Thomas should be on it, mainly because he was taken
49ers sign WR Trent Taylor, reuniting with former draft pick
By David Bonilla
Apr 16
The San Francisco 49ers announced the signing of wide receiver Trent Taylor to a one-year deal, reuniting with the team's former fifth-round draft pick out of Louisiana Tech.
Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area was the first to report that the 49ers were discussing a potential reunion with Taylor. The receiver was part of head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch's first draft class in 2017 and spent his first four NFL seasons with the team.
The #49ers are talking with free-agent slot receiver/return man
