Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Videos are auto-populated by an affiliate. This site has no control over the videos that appear above.
Do the San Francisco 49ers need to do something drastic to get over the playoff hump that has plagued them for years? They reached the Super Bowl during the 2019 season but couldn't slam the door on the Kansas City Chiefs. They've come one win short of returning to the Super Bowl in each of the past two seasons, including Sunday's NFC Championship Game loss to the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field.
What's next for the 49ers' quarterback situation? One day into their offseason, the speculation seems to be running wild, especially after news broke that
Brock Purdy, injured against the Eagles,
suffered a complete tear of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his throwing arm and will require surgery. He is expected to miss up to six months, which means missing the entire offseason program but potentially returning for training camp.
Before news of the injury, many felt the QB1 job was Purdy's to lose. Most expected to watch a quarterback battle against the former No. 3 overall pick, Trey Lance, who entered the 2022 season as the starter.
Purdy needed the upcoming offseason. How will his injury and recovery time impact any quarterback decision? Might the team opt to pursue
Tom Brady now?
Before Purdy's MRI results became known, one NFL agent believed a Purdy vs. Lance offseason battle is inevitable, and the starter will emerge from that outcome, not from signing a high-priced veteran.
"They'll let Jimmy G walk, have Purdy compete with Lance, and the job will be Purdy's to lose," the agent predicted,
speaking with Mike Sando of The Athletic. "They'll be open to a Lance trade, knowing that is a long shot. Purdy is so much cheaper than Jimmy, they can add players around Purdy now and maybe still develop Lance."
Others, weren't so sure about Lance's future, believing head coach Kyle Shanahan and company, satisfied with what they saw from Purdy in his abbreviated rookie season, might look to trade the former first-round pick and add Brady.
"I think they will trade Trey Lance to Tennessee and then they will end up with Brady and Brady will play one year for his home team, and they will have Brock Purdy as the backup," an NFL executive told Sando. "That is the chatter. They have the defense already, Brady wants to win one more, and this is right up the 49ers' alley."
Obviously, Purdy's diagnosis changes things. Lance, recovering from his second ankle surgery, is expected to return in time for OTAs. Right now, he would be the only healthy quarterback, assuming no setbacks. Jimmy Garoppolo, recovering from a broken foot, is slated to hit free agency.
Another NFL executive didn't think the 49ers would trade Lance before the updated Purdy news, but not necessarily because the team hoped to hold onto the 22-year-old quarterback.
"I don't think Lance has enough value right now to trade him," the executive explained.
Now, it seems almost certain that the Niners hold onto the former first-round pick.
A sketchy rumor surfaced on Sunday morning, alleging that San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk had requested a trade.
BREAKING: Brandon Aiyuk has officially requested a trade from the 49ers, per confirmation from my San Francisco source. Benjamin Allbright & 49ersSportsTalk have also done some preliminary reporting on this story. As of Sunday morning, April 14, the Steelers have been the… pic.twitter.com/plCkQo87lj— John Frascella (Football) (@LegendSports7)
We are now nearly two months removed from the San Francisco 49ers' Super Bowl 58 defeat. The NFL Scouting Combine and the bulk of free agency are in the books. Before we look forward to the NFL Draft, it is important to reflect on the moves that have already occurred. They will provide a better picture of the team's remaining needs heading into the annual rookie selection event.
To review a complete list of the 49ers' offseason moves thus far, you can visit our 2024 free agency tracker.
Key Departures
The most significant departure was Arik Armstead. The defensive tackle's high salary-cap figure and his recent injury history prompted the
NFL Media's Adam Rank has thrown his hat into the mock draft ring. However, there's a slight twist. Rather than projecting what NFL teams will do in Round 1, he's sharing what he believes they should do in Round 1. For the San Francisco 49ers at No. 31 overall, Rank suggests general manager John Lynch should focus on upgrading the offensive line. Specifically, he recommends finding a replacement for Colton McKivitz at right tackle.
Rank proposes that the 49ers use their first-round pick on former Oklahoma tackle Tyler Guyton.
"Last season, Colton McKivitz gave up nine sacks -- tied for fourth-most in the NFL, per PFF," Rank
NFL Network host Rhett Lewis released his first mock draft of the year on NFL.com. What does he project the San Francisco 49ers doing with the No. 31 overall pick? Lewis has the team acquiring some edge-rushing help, bolstering a group that already includes Nick Bosa and newly signed Leonard Floyd.
The host has the 49ers selecting former Penn State edge rusher Chop Robinson.
According to Sports Reference, Robinson registered 41 tackles, including 17.5 for a loss, 9.5 sacks, three passes defensed, and three forced fumbles in two