The 49ers didn’t select a quarterback in the draft, but picked one up in undrafted free agency.
The San Francisco 49ers made eight selections in the 2024 NFL Draft, identifying players that fit their scheme well at positions of need as they look to remain competitive this upcoming season.
One position that the 49ers did not address in the draft was quarterback, as San Francisco did not take one of the 11 drafted players at the position, of which five were taken in the fifth round or later.
However, San Francisco did add an undrafted free agent, signing Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Tanner Mordecai to a deal to compete in training camp this offseason.
Having covered the Wisconsin Badgers in Madison over the past year, I had the pleasure of watching Mordecai on a weekly basis in 2023. Let’s break down his game and what the 49ers could get from the quarterback this offseason.
Mordecai’s profile
Standing at 6’2, 218 pounds, Mordecai comes to the 49ers with six years of collegiate experience and, funny enough, is one month older than starting quarterback Brock Purdy.
The undrafted free agent began his career with Lincoln Riley at Oklahoma for three years before heading to SMU for two seasons. Finally, he finished his career this past season at Wisconsin.
When evaluating Mordecai ahead of the 2023 season, I honestly thought he should have declared for the 2023 NFL Draft, rather than return for a sixth and final season at Wisconsin.
Mordecai’s 2023 year was one of ups and downs, as he was integrated into a new offense that had inconsistent offensive line play and underwhelming pass catchers, leading to a struggling offense.
At SMU, Mordecai was more of a gunslinger, demonstrating good enough arm strength and a desire to drive the ball downfield in Rhett Lashlee’s spread offense that was heavy with RPO actions.
Overall, the quarterback showcased solid accuracy across the field, especially in the short area, and worked in an offense that predicated itself on getting the ball out quickly at both SMU and Wisconsin with a ton of half-field reads in the RPO system.
Additionally, Mordecai has good athleticism, showcasing an ability to take off both as a scrambler and on quarterback keepers in the RPO game.
Mordecai does tend to have happy feet as well, which can lead to inconsistencies with his accuracy at times.
While his Wisconsin film wasn’t on par with his SMU film, I wasn’t as big of a fan of how the offense was structured in 2023, as there wasn’t enough of a downfield presence for Mordecai to utilize all three elements of the field in the up-tempo offense.
As a person, Mordecai was revered at Wisconsin as he quickly won over the team, becoming a clear leader just months after joining the program. That resonated throughout the year, as the quarterback’s personality and competitiveness carried the team well, despite him being with the program for just one year.
Additionally, Mordecai is just a “gamer”, as his main goal was to win, and that was reflected in his game. He found ways to extend plays, both with his arm and his legs, which should fit well with the 49ers style.
Fit with the 49ers
Mordecai enters a quarterback room with three veterans: Brock Purdy, Josh Dobbs, and Brandon Allen.
The 49ers gave Dobbs $2.25 million in guaranteed money, likely leading him to be the backup quarterback in 2024.
But, Mordecai should have the ability to compete in camp with the third-team group, and does have the traits that head coach Kyle Shanahan does like with his quarterbacks.
Mordecai’s ability to get the ball out quickly to early reads fits well with Shanahan’s offense, while his “sneaky” athleticism is similar to Brock Purdy’s, despite being seen as more of a pro-style pocket passer.
Now, the undrafted free-agent is entering his age-25 season, and has a tough path to earning a roster spot, especially if San Francisco carries just two quarterbacks on the 53-man roster.
But, I could envision a scenario where Mordecai spends the season on the practice squad before competing for the backup role in 2025 with a year of experience in Shanahan’s system under his belt.
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