The big question heading into the offseason is what the San Francisco 49ers are going to do about their quarterback position. Are they going to trade Jimmy Garoppolo, as many expect at this point? Will they hand the keys over to Trey Lance or will they make him sit another season before naming him the starter?
While the Niners figure out what to do with those two quarterbacks, they’ve reportedly ensured that the third one on their roster stays put. According to Adam Schefter, the 49ers have given Nat Sudfeld a “one-year, fully-guaranteed $2 million deal with upside to get it to $3 million.”
49ers gave QB Nate Sudfeld a one-year, fully-guaranteed $2 million deal with upside to get it to $3 million, per source. There were two other teams interested in Sudfeld with, in the words of one source, “all believing he has starter potential in the league.”
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 11, 2022
Per Schefter, there were multiple teams also interested in Sudfeld, both of whom reportedly believed he has “starter potential.”
Sudfeld didn’t play a down for San Francisco last year but he was second on the depth chart whenever Garoppolo or Lance was out with injuries. He was also activated from the practice squad for the NFC Championship Game merely as a gesture of goodwill, showing how much Kyle Shanahan is a fan.
He and Lance are said to have a strong relationship and, assuming that Lance will be the starter next season, that rapport between them, plus Sudfeld’s familiarity with the system, makes him a solid choice as the backup to a young quarterback working through his first season as a starter.
Drafted by Washington in 2016, the 28-year-old spent four seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles before coming over to the Niners on a one-year deal. He did see some action on the field in Philly, garnering 188 passing yards, one touchdown, and one interception.