In an effort to be a part of the solution and help the 49ers secure a franchise quarterback for the 2017 season, KNBR.com has taken initiative to create an organized menu with San Francisco’s options for next season.
The names and faces will change throughout the upcoming months on our QB tracker, but it’s already that time to start monitoring the future. The 49ers are spiraling out of control at 1-5 and the team hasn’t selected a quarterback in the first few rounds of the draft since Colin Kaepernick in 2011. It’s time to make a significant investment in the position.
Considering it’s still October, it’s too early to speculate who will be in charge of making this pick, but it’s clear the 49ers are going to selecting near the top of the NFL Draft. Bringing in a rookie makes the most sense, but there are several intriguing and experienced quarterbacks who will hit the trade and free agency market.
This is an ordered priority list.
Deshaun Watson (6-foot-2, 210 pounds, 21 years old)
What’d he do this week: 39-for-52, 378 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT in a Clemson 24-17 overtime win against N.C. State.
Current status in Dane Brugler’s mock draft: No. 2 to the San Francisco 49ers.
Why he should come to the 49ers: Watson’s got absolutely everything on paper: arm strength, athleticism, excellent foot work from the pocket, instinctive playmaking abilities. His question mark is a tad scary — his weight. Recent quarterbacks Robert Griffin III and Johnny Manziel were exposed for not having NFL frames. But Watson isn’t an athlete playing QB. He’s a true passer and has established that fact over and over again at the college level. You can build a football team around him.
Jimmy Garoppolo (6-foot-3, 225 pounds, 24 years old)
What’d he do this week: Backed up Tom Brady
Current contract: 4-year, $3.4 million (free agent to-be in 2017)
Why the 49ers should want him: This doesn’t feel like Matt Cassel, or Ryan Mallet or Brian Hoyer. This feels like Garoppolo has potential to take a franchise to the next level as a free agent, just as Drew Brees did when he left the Chargers for the Saints. Since he’s been in Bill Belichick’s system, there will be a fear of the unknown committing upwards of $50 million guaranteed for Garoppolo. But his sample size earlier in the season (42/60, 472 yards, 4 TD, 0 INT) without Rob Gronkowski won me over.
DeShone Kizer (6-foot-4, 230 pounds, 20 years old)
What’d he do this week: 14-for-26, 154 yards, 0 TD, 2 INT in a 17-10 loss to Stanford.
Current status in Dane Brugler’s mock draft: No. 1 to the Cleveland Browns.
Why the 49ers should want him: I’m tapping the brakes on the Kizer hype train. And it’s not because Notre Dame is off to a pitiful 2-5 start, nor do I think he’ll be a bust either. His completion percentage is 58.3. That’s alarming. I need to see more from Kizer the rest of the season before I’m ready to hand him the keys to a franchise. I’ll take decision-making over size any day of the week. So Kizer has a lot more to prove in my eyes.
Brad Kaaya (6-foot-4, 215 pounds, 21 years old)
What’d he do this week: 16-for-31, 224 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT in a 20-13 loss to North Carolina.
Current status in Dane Brugler’s mock draft: No. 6 overall to the Chicago Bears.
Why he should come to the 49ers: Columnists in Miami are already jumping off Kaaya’s bandwagon. He was labeled as an underachiever with previous coach Al Golden and has finally started flashing potential with Mark Richt. Some scouts have said he reminds them of Jason Campbell — not exactly a strong compliment for a team looking for a franchise quarterback.
Kirk Cousins (6-foot-3, 210 pounds, 28 years old)
What’d he do this week: 18-for-34, 263 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT in a 27-20 win over Philadelphia.
Current contract: 1-year, $19.9 million (franchise tag)
Why the 49ers should want him: Cousins will wrack up passing yards and can hit playmakers in space — those are both positive traits the 49ers currently don’t have on their roster. But he’ll make some mind-numbing interceptions and he hasn’t proven himself in big games. The season is still relatively young. There’s a chance the Redskins don’t win the NFC East, miss the playoffs and GM Scot McCloughan is persuaded to find a cheaper replacement in the middle rounds of the draft. Handing over Cousins $16 million a season does seem like it could be setting up a team for inevitable disappointment. If his market dries up, a short-term deal wouldn’t necessarily be the worst thing ever.
Teddy Bridgewater (6-foot-3, 215 pounds, 23 years old)
What’d he do this week: Rehabbing his torn ACL
Current contract: 4-years, $6.8 million (2-years remaining for $2.7 million beginning in 2017)
Why the 49ers should want him: Would you trade a first-round pick for Teddy Bridgewater? He’s not a frontline Pro Bowler, but you can win with him. Considering how successful Sam Bradford has been, the topic of Bridgewater has to come up within the 49ers’ front office. And if you do pull off this trade, you should commit to Bridgewater right away and give him a contract extension. There’s no point of trading for Bridgewater and creating competition behind him. If you bring him in with another young quarterback in the early rounds of the draft, you’ll create a sticky dynamic. Obviously, the Vikings would be reluctant to give Bridgewater up. His contract is team-friendly and who knows if or when Bradford will come crashing back to earth.
Tony Romo (6-foot-2, 230 pounds, 36 years old)
What’d he do this week: Rehabbing a broken bone in his back
Current contract: 6-years, $108 million (2-years remaining for $23.5 million beginning in 2017)
Why the 49ers should want him: The 49ers really shouldn’t want Romo, but he’s a talented quarterback who is clearly on his way out of Dallas. He’s also a fragile piece of glass and will turn 37 next offseason. You’ll probably be getting only one year of him, and will have to have a significant plan at backup quarterback because of Romo’s injury history. The Jets and Bears make way more sense for Romo, but never say never.
Jay Cutler (6-foot-3, 230 pounds, 33 years old)
What’d he do this week: Rehabbing his injured thumb
Current contract: 7-year, $126 million (2-year, $35 million beginning in 2017)
Why he should come to the 49ers: Cutler and Chip Kelly feuding through the media sounds like it could win an Emmy as a reality television show. It’s hard to believe this will be Cutler’s eighth season with the Bears, and he might’ve fallen out of favor for good this time. The Bears are going to do everything in their power to unload Cutler in the offseason, but he won’t command much more than Kaepernick did in 2016 (between a third or a fourth round pick). If the 49ers somehow screw up the draft and don’t take a quarterback in the first round, they might end up with Cutler. Do not rule this out.
Colin Kaepernick (6-foot-4, 230 pounds, 28 years old)
What’d he do this week: 13-for-29, 187 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT in 45-16 loss to the Buffalo Bills.
Current contract: 1-year, $19.3 million (recently restructured, player option to become free agent in 2017)
Why the 49ers should want him: They shouldn’t. Sunday wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t pretty. Kaepernick is no longer a starting quarterback in the NFL and will likely be backing up someone else next season — although his list of suitors won’t be long. We will remember 2016 as his final chapter in San Francisco and his first step into politics. But in the mean time, might as well play him to try and get anything going on offense.
Blaine Gabbert (6-foot-4, 235 pounds, 27 years old)
What’d he do this week: Backing up Colin Kaepernick.
Current contract: 1-year, $1.75 million (free agent to-be in 2017)
Why the 49ers should want him: There’s actually a reasonable chance the 49ers re-sign Gabbert in the offseason. He’s a backup quarterback with good work habits and his presence won’t be threatening to a rookie quarterback trying to establish himself as the leader of the football team.
