The 49ers could have signed a quality backup quarterback this offseason, but instead they re-signed Brandon Allen.
Lots of quality backups were available. They could have signed Gardner Minshew or traded for Mac Jones or brought back Sam Darnold, whom Kyle Shanahan once famously compared to Steve Young.
But the 49ers simply stuck with Allen, who’s 31 and has a career win-loss record of 2-7. Clearly, the 49ers want to project confidence in Purdy. He’s their franchise quarterback — they don’t need to hedge their bets at the position with a quarterback who actually wants to play. Last year, they signed Darnold because there were major question marks surrouding Purdy after tearing his UCL.
Now, Purdy is coming off an MVP-caliber season and a Super Bowl appearance, so the 49ers think they don’t need a high-level backup quarterback. They merely need someone who’s good in the meeting room, someone who’s a coach on the field, someone who can help Purdy prepare during the week. A caddy more than a quarterback.
And that’s Allen. He might be the best quarterback caddy in the NFL. But what would happen if Purdy were to sprain his ankle or injure his finger and miss a month or two? Could the 49ers actually win with Allen? Could he keep the season afloat until Purdy returns?
Considering he’s 31 and has won just two games in his career, the answer probably is no.
The 49ers need to draft a quarterback who’s better than Allen, because QBs get injured all the time in the NFL, especially on the 49ers.
