Five Free Agent Quarterbacks the 49ers Should Consider Signing
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Targeting and signing a quarterback in free agency is assuredly going to happen for the San Francisco 49ers.
What isn't assured are the quarterbacks that they will be interested in to sign. It would be ideal if the 49ers got someone who was a starter for a good stretch of their careers and has a bit of mobility to them. There are quite a few players who can fit that mold. The decision and execution on who to bring in will be crucial for the 49ers with Trey Lance recovering from a broken ankle and Brock Purdy recovering from a UCL repair.
Here are five free agent quarterbacks the 49ers should consider signing.
Jacoby Brissett
The best free agent quarterback to me is Brissett. He did an excellent job as the starter for the Browns in 11 games throwing for 2,608 yards, 12 touchdowns, and six interceptions. While it does help to have a few sweet offensive skill players such as Amari Cooper and Nick Chubb, he did factor into tight end David Njoku having a good season. The theme with Brissett is having adequate talent around him with a run game. That is exactly what the 49ers offense can provide.
Brissett would thrive with the 49ers and be the best contingency to Lance and Purdy. Best part of all is the offense wouldn't see dramatic change with Brissett with the exception of quarterback designed runs. However, Brissett played well enough to warrant attention from all quarterback needy teams. The price for him will likely be costly and that just isn't something the 49ers can afford. Then there is the wonder of if Brissett even wants to be backup when he can easily find a starting job elsewhere.
Jameis Winston
With the Saints signing Derek Carr this past week, it makes for the end of Winston’s career with the Saints. Winston never got a fair deal last season. Injuries derailed his season, but even when Andy Dalton wasn’t producing enough, the Saints refused to reinstall Winston as the starter. Finding a team that will allow him to compete as a starter is likely over for him, which makes him a fit for the 49ers.
Winston provides a bit of mobility and an arm to chuck it deep like Lance and Purdy would. It’s also a good sign that Sean Payton approves of him, so that can only be intriguing to the 49ers in their offense. The concern with Winston is his durability. He hasn’t been able to hold up, which is scary because the Niners need a reliable backup for two of their quarterbacks who are on the mend and making their way back.
Marcus Mariota
It was an up and down 2022 season for Mariota. He didn’t get to finish the season as a starter as Desmond Ridder took over. The issues weren’t with him running the ball. The issue was the fact that he struggles to throw the ball as a pocket passer. He just couldn’t do it. In the 13 games that he started in, Mariota threw for over 2,200 yards with 15 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. Threatening a defense with his arm wasn't there.
However, he does provide fantastic mobility. He’s more of a running quarterback, so stylistically he will fit an offense behind Trey Lance. Mariota has great speed that has him up there with the likes of Lamar Jackson. He was that fast and explosive. The upside with Mariota is that he will operate in a quarterback friendly offense that has way more weapons to utilize than in Atlanta. Best part of all is that he should come cheap. He’s nothing more than a backup at this point in his career, so joining the 49ers would be a solid career path for him.
Taylor Heineke
Where Mariota is a fit behind Lance, Heineke is a fit behind Purdy. Quite an intriguing career as a starter that Heineke has had thus far. He showed some flare and promise in 2020 with Washington, then never got to keep a firm grasp of it. What’s clear now after the last three years is that Heineke is a glorified backup. That’s something he actually takes pride in, so he’s like Alex Moran from the show Blue Mountain State.
Kind of a red flag to have a quarterback be thrilled as a backup worn on his sleeve like that. It was probably best for him to keep that one to himself because it just shows how content he is, which can raise work ethic concerns. He didn’t perform that bad either as the starter last season as he threw for 1,859 yards, 12 touchdowns and 6 interceptions. To have him start for a few games would be fine. He will also come cheap given his public comments on being a backup. You just have to wonder if he will grasp the playbook and work hard to execute precisely. That concern alone is enough to steer the 49ers away.
Andy Dalton
The least attractive of these five is between Heineke and Andy Dalton. But at least with Dalton, he fits the mold of starting caliber for a long period of his career with some success. Plus, he would come at a relatively cheap price that the 49ers are sure to add upon incentives. Joining the 49ers would be a smart move for Dalton. Jimmy Garoppolo was able to thrive here.
I sincerely doubt that Dalton would be far off of what Garoppolo did. He threw for 18 touchdowns and nine interceptions last year. A 2-to-1 touchdown/interception ratio isn't bad at all, especially considering the Saints hardly have any playmakers on offense. That number should see improvement with a better offensive coordinator in Kyle Shanahan and multiple playmakers on offense. All Dalton has to do is get the ball out to where the schemed receiver is.
