Blaine Gabbert traded from Jacksonville Jaguars to San Francisco 49ers
Blaine Gabbert was traded to the 49ers for a sixth-round pick. (Bill Frakes/SI)
The Blaine Gabbert ... well, era's not the right word for it. Whatever you want to call it, Gabbert's time with the Jacksonville Jaguars came to an end Tuesday when he was traded to the San Francisco 49ers for a reported sixth-rounder and another conditional pick. Gabbert, who has one year at slightly more than $2 million left on his rookie deal, presumably will compete to be Colin Kaepernick's backup.
Gabbert's career to this point has been a well-documented bust. The No. 10 overall pick of the 2011 draft, he will finish his Jacksonville career with a 5-22 record as a starter and a cumulative QB rating of 66.4. Last season, he started three games (all losses) while throwing seven interceptions and just one touchdown.
Quite frankly, it is rather shocking that the Jaguars were able to secure anything of value for Gabbert, whose days in Jacksonville appeared numbered one way or the other. Jacksonville recently re-signed veteran QB Chad Henne to a two-year deal and could be eyeing a quarterback with the No. 3 selection in the upcoming draft.
"We thought highly of Blaine as an early entry into the 2011 NFL draft," 49ers general manager Trent Baalke said in a statement. "He is a high-character individual that will be given every opportunity to develop within our system and we are looking forward to working with him."
Prior to trading for Gabbert, the 49ers held 11 draft picks, most of any team. That number included two second-rounders, two third-rounders and three seventh-rounders. Prior to last year's draft, the 49ers shot a sixth-round pick over to Baltimore in exchange for veteran receiver Anquan Boldin, who proceeded to lead the team with 85 receptions. Unless something goes horribly wrong, Gabbert's impact should be far less substantial than that.
McLeod Bethel-Thompson
