Despite cycling through three different starting quarterbacks, the San Francisco 49ers came just a win away from reaching Super Bowl LVII. This just goes to show how well a coaching staff led by Kyle Shanahan, continued to adapt their plans all season long, no matter what obstacles jumped in their way.
Yet, we also can’t overlook the fact that general manager John Lynch put the team in a strong position to succeed, not only by putting together a ferocious defense that allowed the fewest points per game in 2022.
Entering the 2023 offseason, we don’t know for sure who will be under center in Week 1 for the 49ers. Trey Lance, being that the 49ers traded three first-round picks to make him the third selection of the 2021 NFL Draft, would appear to be the future, but Mr. Irrelevant Brock Purdy also firmly tossed his hat in the ring by going 5-0 as a starter in the regular season.
Yet, Purdy is only now undergoing elbow surgery, and there’s no telling if or when he’ll be ready to throw again next season. This could place Lance back in the captain’s chair, but if Purdy isn’t healthy, who will be Lance’s backup?
49ers fans were painfully reminded of just how valuable a team’s backup QB can be last season, and they’ll want to ensure they have more than just one or two capable gunslingers on the depth chart.
According to Michael Silver of Bally Sports, players like Cleveland’s Jacoby Brissett, New Orleans’ Andy Dalton, and even Indianapolis’ Matt Ryan are all being considered by the 49ers this offseason. The first two are officially hitting free agency on March 15, but Ryan has yet to be cut loose from the Colts after a disastrous season.
Say what you want about the former NFL MVP, but Ryan would be a highly valued voice in the locker room, helping coach both Purdy and Lance as they try and maximize their potential. Having a four-time Pro Bowl QB who’s seen it all, rising to the top of the league with a Super Bowl appearance, and also experiencing plenty of lows in recent years could provide an incredible amount of perspective for young, impressionable athletes.
Meanwhile, both Brissett and Dalton would be wise alternative options as well, with the former recently showing he can be a high-level backup capable of stepping in and even winning a few games for the Browns in 2022. Dalton also comes with three Pro Bowls on his résumé.
If these are who the 49ers are considering for a backup role, they could do a lot worse, especially considering each player made several starts last season.
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