The 49ers don’t have any quarterback controversies right now, but Bomani Jones thinks they should be open to the possibility.
For the first time in several years, the San Francisco 49ers seem slated to enter the upcoming preseason without a controversy at the top (or backup) spots on the depth chart. However, former ESPN and HBO host Bomani Jones dropped a spicy take that would add plenty of drama to the Niners season on the latest episode of his podcast, The Right Time With Bomani Jones. To Jones, the 49ers should strongly consider taking Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the 31st overall pick in the draft if he is available.
“The one that’s jumping out to me, and I know it’s not going to happen, but what if Kyle decided to try and blow everybody’s mind and take Michael Penix at number 31,” Jones said. “Which I have to say, would be the smart play.”
Jones’ logic was straightforward, even if it would buck NFL conventions and likely infuriate a massive chunk of San Francisco’s fanbase. Purdy has just two years remaining on his rookie contract and will be extension-eligible next offseason. Given how he has performed, the Iowa State product will be in a position to command a contract worth at least $50 million a year with massive guarantees after next season.
Joined by ESPN NFL analyst Domonique Foxworth on the podcast, Jones offered his take up to the former NFL cornerback, who was less on board with the plan.
“I wouldn’t do it because of the progress that I think that they have made with Purdy, but I get your point,” Foxworth said. “It would be a shot worth taking.”
Penix, of course, is one of the most experienced quarterback prospects in recent draft history, having topped his college team’s depth chart for the majority of his six-year career. He is also coming off an incredible season at Washington.
However, injuries have been a mainstay of his collegiate tenure, and are the primary reason he will likely fall outside the first 10 picks in the draft. Even if Kyle Shanahan likes Penix’s potential as a prospect, given how the 49ers have been haunted by injuries at quarterback (particularly with Jimmy Garoppolo), it seems hard to imagine the Niners would make such a sizable gamble.
“What Purdy has going for him is the thing that Penix has going for him, which is there is a much smaller period between when he sees the throw and he makes the throw than the average person,” Jones explained. “So if I got this guy who can do that or I can pay $50 million to this guy. I know they’re going to pay 50 because that’s what everybody does.”
Penix ranked Purdy among the five best quarterbacks in the NFL during an interview last month. So even the reigning Heisman runner-up himself sees Purdy as a higher-tier option than Jones.
While a first-round quarterback would be a shocker, it would not be as big a surprise to see the 49ers add a signal caller with one of their several Day 3 picks to compete with Brandon Allen to be the team’s third quarterback. Josh Dobbs (and his fully guaranteed $2.25 million contract) likely locks him in as Purdy’s backup, only about 45% of Allen’s deal is currently guaranteed.
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