The 49ers have a ton of tough decisions to make on their roster heading into the 2020 season. Perhaps the best news for the team’s future is that quarterback doesn’t appear to be an issue for them next season.
They have three players who could (and should) all be on the roster again unless an unforeseen trade scenario materializes. Here are the quarterbacks on the 49ers’ roster and where they stand going into next season, as well as a look at what’s next at the position for San Francisco.
Jimmy Garoppolo, 28-years old
Garoppolo is going to be the 49ers’ quarterback going into 2020 barring something completely extraordinary happening. He’s coming off his first full season as a starter where his only major flaw was throwing the eighth-most interceptions. He also led the team to the Super Bowl and was one or two plays from winning MVP of that game. It stands to reason Garoppolo will be better next season, which means San Francisco will continue being in Super Bowl contention.
Nick Mullens, 24
The former undrafted free agent will enter the offseason as an exclusive rights free agent. He spent all of last season’s as San Francisco’s backup signal caller, and his status as an ERFA means he’s all but certain to be back in a 49ers uniform next season. The 49ers could trade him if a team offers something like a third or fourth-round pick for him, but his familiarity with the system makes him a valuable No. 2 quarterback for San Francisco moving forward.
CJ Beathard, 26
Beathard is entering the final year of his rookie deal after spending all of last season on the 53-man roster. He was inactive for all 16 games. The 49ers traded up in 2017 to draft Beathard out of Iowa, and he went 1-9 in 10 starts across two seasons. Chances are he’ll be on the roster again this year since he’s cheap ($1.2 million cap hit), and he knows the offense. He’s another candidate to get traded if a team comes along willing to part with a late-round pick.
Looking ahead …
Unless Garoppolo takes a significant step backward in 2020, he’s the team’s long-term answer at quarterback. They also have two young players behind him in Beathard and Mullens that they trust in reserve roles.
With Beathard on the final year of his deal, they may opt to move on from him in favor of a rookie they take later in this year’s draft. However, Beathard is well-liked and already has three years in the offense. If they do wind up finding a trade suitor for Mullens, Beathard suddenly becomes a valuable member of their quarterback room.
The good news for the 49ers in 2020 is that Garoppolo isn’t coming off an ACL tear. He’ll be healthy for the entire offseason, which means he won’t have to spend the down time rehabbing his surgically repaired knee, and can instead hone the minute details of his position that will help elevate him into the upper echelon of NFL quarterbacks.
If Garoppolo does take a significant step back in 2020, things get extremely dicey for San Francisco’s future. If he doesn’t, they’re likely in the playoffs again to make another run at a Super Bowl.
