Brock Purdy won't be ready for training camp
So, now what?
As anyone who watched the NFC Championship game knows, 49ers QB Brock Purdy, who had earned the starting job next year with his play down the stretch, tore his nerve in his elbow and requires surgery. It’s hopeful that it won’t be a reconstruction, but merely a repair - but even that has a timeline that isn’t super friendly for the start of the 2023 season.
The hope is Purdy will need only an “internal brace” repair, which would include a six-month recovery. But Purdy has said there’s a possibility he’ll need a hybrid procedure that is closer to a full reconstruction — known in baseball circles as Tommy John surgery — that takes pitchers off the mound for a year.
Either way, having Purdy back for training camp seems too optimistic. A more realistic outcome has him missing spring practices and training camp and being fully recovered by the first week of September, which corresponds to the start of the regular season.
What this means in relative terms is that Trey Lance will once again be the starter in training camp and of course have a chance to make his case. He’s got all the talent in the world, so this isn’t the darkest timeline. But given what happened to the 49ers last season it’s clear they need a third QB. I suspect they may draft someone in the mid to late rounds, but they should also sign a veteran QB.
That does NOT mean they should try and re-sign Jimmy Garoppolo, who both GM John Lynch and HC Kyle Shanahan have said isn’t in their plans going forward and expect him to sign a nice deal elsewhere. They should also avoid Derek Carr as he’ll cost too much, or to trade for Aaron Rodgers or even (gasp) Lamar Jackson, as they simply cannot afford any of these guys. What’s more, they have two young QB on rookie deals and that’s one of the biggest advantages in football. Leverage that, don’t waste it.
So, who SHOULD they sign?
I took a look at free agent QBs, which includes some guys like Tom Brady who has retired as well as Jackson who is almost assuredly going to be a Raven or traded for numerous first round picks. Free agency starts on March 15, so the movement will be fast and furious.
This is not a complete list, but I think it has the names that are relevant here. I would scroll all the way down past Geno Smith, who seems likely to re-sign with Seattle and deservedly expects to start next year, as does Daniel Jones who will certainly be back with the Giants at a much higher salary.
I should probably state that Carson Wentz should absolutely NOT be an option, as teams seem to (how can I phrase this delicately) HATE HIM. He’ll be a good long-term backup elsewhere, if he can make that work.
Guys like Jacoby Brissett, Marcus Mariota, Teddy Bridgewater and Taylor Heinecke feel like they could command a decent salary as a backup, especially for teams drafting a rookie this off-season and that likely prices the 49ers out.
I think there are a few guys on this list that would fit perfectly as a stop-gap starter for the 49ers, a mentor and someone who could grasp the Shanahan scheme if called upon.
Andy Dalton: A few years ago, Dalton was out of Cincinnati and signed a modest deal with the Cowboys - the 49ers had been interested then. He was called into action when Dak Prescott got hurt, which fooled the Bears into paying him an absurd $10,000,000 for a one-year deal, more than three times his salary the prior year. He was in New Orleans last year on a more modest $4,000,000 deal and something in that neighborhood or south of it would make a ton of sense. He’s 36 years old, has earned over $100,000,000 in his career (which is BONKERS) and has won exactly nothing (he’s 0-4 as a starter in the playoffs). This would be an awesome opportunity for him to be on a winning team and add real value.
Case Keenum. Keenum has long been a journeyman QB, but that’s what we’re looking for here. He’s played for seven different teams during his 11 years in the league, earned almost $50,000,000 and shown an ability to understand many different offensive schemes. He’d be a great fit, and would be exceptionally cheap. He played for a $1,000,000 contract last year for the Browns, and there’s no real reason to think he’d need to be paid much more than that.
Chase Daniel. Daniel has long been the answer to “Whose career in the NFL would you most want to have?” for me, and if you don’t know who Daniel is, that’s sort of the point. What if I told you Daniel has earned over $41,000,000 in the league while attempting fewer passes in his career (273) than all but eight starting QBs in the league did last season - and all eight of those missed numerous games due to injury. Daniel has started FIVE games in 14 seasons and made over $40,000,000 with probably the lowest chance of CTE or another debilitating injury. It’s funny but for a 14-year vet, he might be too inexperienced for what we’re looking for here. But still, props to Chase.
I cut the list off before it was complete. The name that’s below the fold that is intriguing to me … and feels VERY possible, is Nate Sudfeld. If that name sounds familiar, it’s because Sudfeld was signed by the 49ers during the offseason before the 2022 season. This was when the team expected to trade Jimmy G, and didn’t know what they had in Brock Purdy. He was cut in preseason despite $2,000,000 in guaranteed salary because the team didn’t want to lose Purdy. While that was absolutely the right move, the fact that he’s available again and is exactly the guy the team has already identified for this role …
The fun name at the bottom of the list is Gardner Minschew. I think he’d be fun, as stated, but not sure if he fits the Shanahan scheme or honestly, if he’s any good. He’s had such a weird career, but I suspect the Eagles will re-sign him anyway.
Who would you like to see the 49ers lock up as their backup veteran QB?
Geno did resign, FYI. Guessing you write this before Brock's surgery. Still, the Niners need a 3rd QB and Sudfeld is likely while Minshew is fun