Brock Purdy was the catalyst behind the San Francisco 49ers' late-season run, before the loss to the Seattle Seahawks in the finale, accounting for 19 touchdowns (three rushing) in that six-game win streak. A turf toe suffered in the opener was a nagging injury that ultimately cost Purdy eight weeks.
The season could have been in serious peril early on, but backup quarterback Mac Jones stabilized the offense.
Signed to a two-year contract in March, the 49ers brought in Jones to be the optimal insurance policy to Purdy, and when the opportunity presented itself, he delivered.
Compiling a 5-3 record, Jones passed for more than 2,100 yards, 13 touchdowns, and has shown himself to be a commodity under an offense-friendly system like Kyle Shanahan's.
A hot topic among 49ers fans and NFL circles is whether the team will trade Jones this offseason. ESPN's Bill Barnwell has suggested the Minnesota Vikings trade for Jones to give J.J. McCarthy some competition. It's unlikely that the 49ers will trade Jones because he's proven to be an asset, which is a necessity considering Purdy's uneven injury history.
However, other teams, especially those that are quarterback-starved, will assuredly call the 49ers with potential offers. It's in the 49ers' future best interests to listen and decide what they value most: A solid quarterback room for another year or dealing a solid backup for an impact player and/or high draft capital.
If Jones is dealt, there will be a need for a backup quarterback, and Kurtis Rourke, entering just his second NFL season, needs more practice reps before being close to ready.
With a litany of free agent quarterbacks available, here are five potential fits:
Marcus Mariota
A former second-overall pick, Marcus Mariota has had a similar trajectory to Mac Jones: a top-5 pick, high upside, a quick and accurate thrower, and strong pocket presence. What sets Mariota apart is his ability to scramble throughout his career (5.8 yards per rush).
He threw for 10 touchdowns and a solid quarterback rating of 86.1, backing up Jayden Daniels this past season. He doesn't own the most impressive record as a starter (36-46-1), but now as a journeyman backup, he can more than thrive, if need be, in Shanahan's system.
Joe Flacco
49ers fans are still annoyed at his Super Bowl 47 performance (287 yards and 3 TDs) that netted Joe Flacco an MVP title. Entering his 19th season and still having a desire to play, Flacco could be the perfect stopgap veteran. He started for Cleveland last season and struggled before being dealt to Cincinnati.
Despite the Bengals' defensive liabilities, Flacco threw for 15 touchdowns and nearly 2,500 yards. Still has a gunslinger mentality and is a statue in the pocket, but given his savvy and experience, he can more than hold the fort for the 49ers.
Kirk Cousins
He's still with the Falcons, but is likely to be released once the league year starts in March. If Kirk Cousins becomes available, he could be an attractive backup option, given his connection to Kyle Shanahan from their days in Washington. He does not throw the ball deep much and is in his twilight years, but he does do a lot of things well: reading defenses, accuracy, and efficiency.
Cousins is approaching 300 career passing touchdowns and is still considered a fringe starter in some league circles, so securing Cousins's services will be competitive.
Malik Willis
Malik Willis, a former third-round pick by Tennessee in 2022, struggled with the Titans, primarily serving as a backup, but found some success in a short sample size backing up Jordan Love in Green Bay. He can throw it deep effectively and can extend plays scrambling, but questions remain about his pocket awareness and overall consistency.
Willis will be 27 once the season begins, and a desperate team could allow him to start against internal competition. Still, the arm and athleticism are attractive traits that could interest the 49ers.
Tyler Huntley
For the last six seasons, Tyler Huntley has been Lamar Jackson's apprentice, appearing in 30 games while starting 16. Accounting for 18 touchdowns (five rushing), Huntley was a Pro Bowl replacement in 2022. He can throw accurately and improvise plays with his legs, but he's not necessarily a traditional passer and tends to take sacks against fast defenses.
Huntley may be valuable enough for Baltimore to retain him, but if the 49ers want a dual-threat quarterback who doesn't make many mistakes, Huntley would succeed in a backup role.