Unless you were watching the Rams’ broadcast of Saturday Night’s preseason game featuring the Broncos, you missed the news of an attempted trade between Denver and San Francisco.
As Kevin Hogan and Brett Rypien were unable to move the offense downfield yet again, and with Drew Lock sidelined for at least the start of the season, Rams announcers Andrew Siciliano, Nate Burleson and Mina Kimes mentioned that the Broncos approached the 49ers about a trade.
According to Burleson, during the Broncos’ joint practices with San Francisco, John Elway inquired about the possibility of trading for one of the 49ers’ backup quarterbacks, Nick Mullens or C.J. Beatherd. However, the 49ers weren’t receptive, and told Elway that they’d be holding onto both quarterbacks for now.
While the Broncos were initially shut down, don’t be surprised if this trade ends up happening anyway. They are in desperate need of a backup quarterback until Lock is healthy and either Mullens or Beatherd would be perfect fits. Not only do they play in the most similar scheme in the league to Denver’s, but Broncos’ offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello was their quarterback coach last season.
The trade would also be in San Francisco’s best interest. They likely won’t want to carry three quarterbacks into the regular season, and both backups are too talented to survive waivers to the practice squad.
The 49ers could swap either to the Broncos for Hogan or Rypien and a late round pick, and both sides would win. San Francisco would insure they’d still have one of the league’s better third-string quarterbacks (in either Hogan or Rypien) in case Jimmy Garropolo has more injury problems, without keeping three quarterbacks on their active roster. Meanwhile, the Broncos would get a solid backup for now and the future once Drew Lock eventually takes over the starting role.
