REPORT: The 49ers Might Trade for Zach Wilson
This is a terrible idea.
The 49ers reportedly are a possible trade destination for Jets backup quarterback Zach Wilson, and they'd have to give up just a seventh-round pick to get him. So you can see why the 49ers might be interested, particularly if they liked him coming out of college, which I believe they did. I bet they liked him more than Trey Lance.
Here's my advice to the 49ers: Don't trade for Wilson. Don't freaking do it. Don't even sign him if the Jets release him, which they should, because he's terrible. He's inaccurate, he makes the easiest throws look difficult, he seems immature, he's not a leader and his teammates do not seem to like him. He's everything the 49ers don't need.
What would be the point of giving up on Lance, trading him to the Cowboys, replacing him with Sam Darnold for a year, letting Darnold leave and replacing him with Wilson? Why would the 49ers want the Wilson Project instead of the Lance Project?
The 49ers don't need a project quarterback. They need a backup who's experienced and mature enough to play if Brock Purdy gets injured. Someone like Purdy, who was a backup his rookie season until Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo got injured, then took over and flourished right away.
What makes Purdy Purdy? He played lots of football in college, he's accurate, he's quick, he's short, he doesn't have a strong arm, he's mature and he's a leader. Not many teams are looking for short quarterbacks with weak arms, but they fit the 49ers' system.
A player such as Tua Tagovailoa's little brother Taulia Tagovailoa might fit, too. He's short, he doesn't have a strong arm, he's quick, he threw more than 1,400 passes in college, completed 67 percent of them, led Maryland to three straight seasons in the Big 10 and was the best player on those teams. He carried them like Purdy carried Iowa State.
I'm not saying Tua's little brother will be the next Purdy, but he could be an excellent backup for Purdy and he's a much better option than Wilson.
The 49ers' don't need the stench of Wilson's failure in their building.
