The San Francisco 49ers have been mentioned in discussions regarding a possible trade for the New York Jets’ Zach Wilson, with speculation suggesting that he might only command a late Day 3 draft pick in exchange.
Wilson, who was selected as the No. 2 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, has faced challenges in his NFL journey with the Jets, tallying 6,293 passing yards, 23 touchdowns, and 25 interceptions in 34 games, with a completion rate of just 57 percent.
The 49ers had expressed interest in Wilson prior to the 2021 NFL Draft, but were unable to acquire him as he was already slated to be the Jets’ No. 2 overall pick early in the selection process.
Now, with an opportunity to potentially acquire Wilson, the question arises: Would it be wise for the 49ers to pursue him to bolster their backup quarterback position?
If the 49ers decide to pursue Wilson, they would likely only need to offer a seventh-round draft pick in return.
Wilson has one year left on his rookie contract, with a salary of $5.45 million, assuming the Jets do not retain any portion of his contract.
However, despite the minimal risk associated with the move, the 49ers should probably refrain from pursuing Wilson.
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The contract for a backup quarterback like Wilson appears burdensome, a direction the 49ers seem hesitant to take, given his underwhelming performance history in the NFL.
Instead of investing heavily in a backup, the 49ers should consider selecting a promising rookie quarterback in the draft and nurturing their development. This approach would offer a financially prudent option to support starter Brock Purdy.
Given the frequent injuries to their starting quarterbacks under Kyle Shanahan’s leadership, the backup quarterback issue has been a hot topic among 49ers fans. Nevertheless, relying on a backup quarterback significantly decreases the likelihood of winning crucial games, especially considering the team’s existing salary cap constraints.
In the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft, the 49ers have the opportunity to explore various late-round quarterback prospects with different skill sets. They could potentially identify a suitable candidate with one of their Day 3 picks.
Furthermore, if they’re not immediately confident in a rookie’s ability, they could turn to experienced quarterback Brandon Allen, who already has familiarity with the system, while the rookie gains experience on the practice squad.
Ultimately, the focus should be on cost-effectiveness at the quarterback position. Drafting a young quarterback offers the 49ers a financially sustainable solution that could evolve into a dependable backup in the long term.
Acquiring Zach Wilson, with only one year left on his contract and a lackluster track record in the NFL, wouldn’t address the team’s backup quarterback concerns effectively.
