Denver Broncos apparently talked QB trade with 49ers
According to the broadcast crew during the Denver Broncos’ preseason game with the Los Angeles Rams, there have been talks with the 49ers about a QB trade.
During the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Rams preseason broadcast, the crew of Andrew Siciliano, Mina Kimes, and Nate Burleson discussed the possibility that John Elway and John Lynch discussed trading for one of the 49ers’ backup quarterbacks.
The 49ers, of course, have Jimmy Garoppolo, Nick Mullens, CJ Beathard, and undrafted rookie Wilton Speight on their roster right now, and the guys the Broncos would be interested in would be Mullens and Beathard.
The Rams’ broadcast crew said that Hogan winning the backup job with Drew Lock’s thumb injury is a ‘big if’ based on his play Saturday night. He had 69 yards passing and the Broncos scored three points on the possessions led by Hogan.
Andrew Siciliano said the Broncos ‘know what Hogan can do’ and then Nate Burleson said the ‘word on the street’ is that the Broncos reached out to San Francisco and inquired about Beathard and Mullens.
Burleson followed up by saying the 49ers were going to hold onto their quarterbacks for the time being.
In a timely fashion, Jimmy Garoppolo vastly out-played what he showed against the Broncos on Monday night. It’s also notable that, in the 49ers’ preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs, only Mullens played after Garoppolo.
Mullens also played really well.
Beathard, at the time of this posting, did not play. With three minutes left in the game and the Chiefs holding the ball, it’s very possible the 49ers are keeping Beathard out of action for a couple of reasons.
The likeliest reason is that the 49ers knew what they had in all of their quarterbacks, but wanted extra reps for Garoppolo and Mullens was just the next man up.
It’s notable, however, that Mullens came out second in a true competition for the backup spot there with the 49ers. Since the third preseason game is generally considered the dress rehearsal, it looks like Mullens won the backup spot.
The 49ers could be keeping Beathard from getting hurt because they might be about to get a draft selection for him.
With the shocking news of Andrew Luck’s retirement in Indianapolis, they might even have multiple suitors.
The Broncos wouldn’t be bringing in a guy like Beathard or Mullens to start, but to bring them in as better, higher upside backups compared to Kevin Hogan.
If the 49ers are willing to give one of these guys up for a late-round draft pick, or if the Broncos can send a player their way they can afford to live without, maybe a safety.
Next. Players standing out for the Broncos in preseason play. dark
With Hogan’s underwhelming performance yet again, the Broncos may be motivated to make some kind of deal. We’ll see how willing the 49ers are.