The San Francisco 49ers answered a big quarterback question this offseason when they signed Brock Purdy to a five-year, $256 million contract extension. But one of the biggest questions heading into OTAs was who would be lining up behind him on the depth chart.
Mac Jones has the backup role sewed up but there is a competition for the third quarterback position. With two quarterbacks likely battling for a spot on the roster or even the practice squad, one damaged his chances of making the team and could be on the way out after a rocky OTA performance.
Tanner Mordecai on Roster Bubble Entering 49ers Training Camp
Tanner Mordecai has been on and off the 49ers roster after a journeyman collegiate career. Playing in a variety of pass-first offenses, Mordecai racked up 9,857 yards, 85 touchdowns and 27 interceptions with Oklahoma, SMU and Wisconsin during his career and was the prototypical project quarterback that teams look to keep on the back end of their roster.
While he originally signed as a UDFA after the 2024 draft, he was waived during training camp and spent the entire year on the practice squad. He returned on a futures contract for this season but the 49ers spent a seventh-round pick on Indiana quarterback Kurtis Rourke in this year’s draft.
The Rourke pick set up a competition entering minicamp but Mordecai couldn’t put his best foot forward. SI’s Grant Cohn noted that Mordecai had a pass broken up and another pass intercepted by 49ers corner Tre Avery during the first week of OTA practices and he backed it up by going a combined 1-for-8 on passes during the second week of practices.
“He’s just not a particularly good football player,” Cohn wrote. “But he’s supposedly a scratch golfer. Maybe he’s the next Happy Gilmore.”
You could argue that Mr. Gilmore is doing well for himself with a sequel on the way. But it’s not helping Mordecai win a roster spot on the 49ers.
Rourke is recovering from a torn ACL that he played on the entire 2024 season with the Hoosiers, but it feels like there’s a low bar to clear when he comes back. In addition, NFL draft analyst Greg Cossell called him a fit for the 49ers offense, meaning there shouldn’t be an acclimation process when he gets on the field.
Put everything together and Mordecai’s days with 49ers may be numbered and he could be looking for a new career by the time the regular season begins.