Photo by Harry How/Getty Images
There was that moment in the 2018 season when it seemed like Nick Mullens could hold down the backup quarterback job in Santa Clara for the foreseeable future. Since then, the sheen of that promise and that breakout game against the then-Oakland Raiders has faded, with Mullens struggling mightily with decision making and an unsustainable turnover rate. He had the same amount of touchdowns as interceptions last season: 12.
To make matters worse, in the final game of the season, Mullens suffered an elbow injury on his right throwing arm, requiring offseason surgery. According to a report from NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, he avoided Tommy John and is targeting a return to training camp.
But it was that with the injury, his performance in 2020 and comments from general manager John Lynch, Mullens would not be back. It’s unlikely C.J. Beathard, also a free agent, is back either. Lynch said the 49ers needed to upgrade at the backup quarterback position, indicating the obvious; the 49ers want someone other than Mullens or Beathard to back up Jimmy Garoppolo.
According to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area, the 49ers declined to tender Mullens, a restricted free agent.
Hearing that the #49ers are not going to tender QB Nick Mullens as a restricted free agent. Mullens is rehabbing from elbow surgery. The door is open for the 49ers to re-sign him later in the offseason.
— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoNBCS) March 15, 2021
Tendering Mullens would have been an expensive option for the 49ers in a tight-capped offseason. The minimum, first right of refusal tender (allowing them to match other offers) would have been $2.13 million, and a second-round tender, which would have ensured they kept Mullens or been given a second-round pick for him, is $3.38 million.
By declining to tender him, the 49ers can potentially re-sign Mullens for cheap later in the offseason, assuming they can’t find their desired upgrade at backup quarterback, or they’d prefer Mullens over Josh Rosen as the third-stringer.
