The San Francisco 49ers will enter the 2023 NFL season with three quarterbacks they believe are capable of leading them to playoff victories. However, rumors continue to circulate regarding Kirk Cousins joining the team next year.
Cousins will be one of the top NFL free agents next offseason, hitting the open market with the Minnesota Vikings moving in another direction. Heading into what would be his age-35 season, Cousins will attract interest from several contenders who believe they’re a quarterback away.
- Kirk Cousins stats (2022): 92.5 QB rating, 29-14 TD-INT, 4,547 passing yards
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The 49ers have already been linked heavily to Cousins in recent years. Both in free agency when Kyle Shanahan became head coach and in NFL trade rumors, San Francisco has long been viewed as a likely landing spot for the veteran quarterback. However, it might not be as realistic as previously suggested.
In a mailbag for The Athletic, 49ers’ reporter Matt Barrows explained why he believes it’s unlikely that San Francisco signs Cousins next offseason.
“The 49ers have taken a different path: They have a pricey running back, receiver, tight end, left tackle, defensive tackle (two of them), defensive end (well, in about a month), linebacker and cornerback. Meanwhile, their most expensive quarterback, Trey Lance, ranks 19th in the NFL as far as quarterback salary-cap hits.”
Matt Barrows on likelihood of San Francisco 49ers signing Kirk Cousins in 2024
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Even with the rising NFL salary cap, Barrow’s point is proven by the situation impacting this team next year. San Francisco is already projected to have $270 million in cap liabilities, well over a salary cap that’s projected to be $250-plus million. Even with salary-cap casualties, the 49ers wouldn’t be well-positioned to pay one of the highest-paid NFL players.
However, that isn’t the only reason why Cousins signing with San Francisco next spring and becoming the 49ers’ starting quarterback might not happen.
San Francisco 49ers remain very high on Brock Purdy
San Francisco is preparing to roll with Brock Purdy as its starting quarterback in 2023. While the former seventh-round pick is still recovering from below surgery, his performance as a rookie last season demonstrated his worth to the franchise.
- Brock Purdy stats (2022): 67.1% completion, 13-4 TD-INT, 107.3 QB rating
For now, Purdy is rehabbing as he works his way back into form until he’s cleared by the medical staff to throw without limitations. Beyond Purdy, San Francisco will give Trey Lance and Sam Darnold opportunities to prove they could be the fill-in starter or Purdy’s backup this fall.
When Purdy returns, though, San Francisco is extremely confident in him as its starting quarterback. The confidence even goes so far that the coaching staff believes he has the ceiling of a Pro Bowl quarterback.
In addition, per Barrows, Shanahan seems to believe that Purdy could be the next Cousins. The important difference for San Francisco, Purdy is significantly cheaper and younger.
“The other reason this seems unlikely — at least, for now — is Brock Purdy. Yes, Shanahan loves Cousins. He has championed Cousins, now 34, since he was Washington’s offensive coordinator in 2012, the year Washington chose the quarterback in the fourth round. But he suspects he now has a younger, cheaper and more mobile version of Cousins in Purdy, who is 11 years younger.
Matt Barrows on the San Francisco 49ers evaluation of Bruck Purdy vs Kirk Cousins
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Unless Purdy suffers another major injury or his success in Shanahan’s offense last season proves to be a fluke, he’s set to be the 49ers’ starting quarterback for years to come. Owed just $2.876 million total over the next three seasons, with a maximum cap hit of $1.119 million (2025), Purdy is the perfect quarterback for San Francisco’s roster construction.