I saw a wild story yesterday indicating that Aaron Rodgers hasn't signed yet because he's hoping to play for the San Francisco 49ers. Sounds absurd, but there's enough speculation out there that it's worth addressing.
The Niners are trying to work out a huge new contract with Brock Purdy. The gist of the story is that instead, San Francisco should trade Purdy elsewhere and sign the 41-year-old Rodgers. Ludicrous, but I guess it makes sense if you believe that Purdy isn't actually as good as the contract San Francsico will have to give him suggests. Certainly, Kyle Shanahan's system can make quarterbacks look better than they are.
I don't place much stock in the rumor in part because trading a 25-year-old quarterback to sign a 41-year-old would be insane. And there's also the fact that San Francisco doesn't look like a championship contender this year no matter who their quarterback is.
It's crazy, since San Francisco has been to three of the last four NFC Championship games (and one Super Bowl). But they went 6-11 last year, finishing last in the NFC West, and I think that's a more accurate picture of where the team is right now.
Certainly, they're really turned over a lot of their roster this offseason. Starting wide receivers and offensive linemen, No. 2 running backs and tight ends, and about half of their starting defense.
Here's the breakdown of players who are out the door in the last month, with their number of 2024 starts shown. Several of the defensive players missed time to injury, but are still good players (certainly the contracts they signed indicate as much). But at a lot of spots, San Francsico is starting over.
| SAN FRANCISCO OFFSEASON MOVEMENT | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | Player | St | Status |
| RB | Jordan Mason | 8 | traded to Min. |
| RB | Elijah Mitchell | 0 | signed with K.C. |
| FB | Kyle Juszczyk | 15 | released, re-signed |
| OG | Aaron Banks | 13 | signed with G.B. |
| OT | Jaylon Moore | 5 | signed with K.C. |
| TE | Eric Saubert | 3 | signed with Seattle |
| WR | Brandon Aiyuk | 7 | coming off ACL injury, trade rumors |
| WR | Deebo Samuel | 15 | traded to Wash. |
| DT | Javon Hargrave | 3 | cut, signed with Min. |
| DT | Maliek Collins | 17 | cut, signed with Cle. |
| DE | Leonard Floyd | 17 | cut, signed with Atl. |
| OLB | Dre Greenlaw | 2 | signed with Den. |
| CB | Charvarius Ward | 12 | signed with Ind. |
| SS | Talanoa Hufanga | 7 | signed with Den. |
Offensively, of course, San Francisco still has Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle. They've got some talent at wide receiver even with Deebo gone and Aiyuk coming off injury.
But this doesn't look like a team in the market for a 41-year-0ld quarterback. Most likely they'll be signing Purdy, and hoping they hit on some draft picks, working their way back to contention.
I think 2025 is a rebuilding year. This might be the worst team in the NFC West again. I don't think I'll have a lot of interest in their defense in fantasy leagues, despite the players still there, and I expect a lot of their key offensive players will be selected earlier than I want to invest in them, as well.
--Andy Richardson