Honestly, if you looked at the San Francisco 49ers QB depth chart three years ago, you probably wouldn't have guessed we'd be here. It’s a wild room. You’ve got a guy who was literally the last pick in the draft, a former first-round "bust" from a rival dynasty, and a rookie who spent the whole year on the shelf. It’s basically a Kyle Shanahan fever dream.
Most people see the names and think it’s just about who’s under center. It isn’t. It’s about how this specific collection of talent fits into a system that asks more of a quarterback's brain than his arm. The 49ers don't just need a passer; they need a point guard who can handle a 200-page playbook without blinking.
The State of the 49'ers QB Depth Chart Right Now
Going into this 2026 offseason, the hierarchy is surprisingly clear, but the health is a mess. Here is how the room actually shakes out:
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Brock Purdy is the undisputed king of the mountain. Period. After signing that massive $265 million extension back in 2025, any whispers about him being a "system QB" have mostly died down. Or at least, people are quieter about it now that he’s making $53 million a year. He finished the 2025 regular season with a 12-5 record, which is impressive considering the Niners were basically playing with a secondary made of duct tape for half the year.
But here’s the thing: Purdy has been banged up. He dealt with a brutal turf toe injury early in the season and has been nursing a shoulder issue. In that recent playoff loss to the Seahawks, he just didn't look like himself. He finished with 140 yards and a couple of ugly turnovers before getting pulled. It was a tough way to end a year where he mostly proved he's worth the bank account.
Mac Jones is the current QB2. Yeah, that Mac Jones. He’s sort of become the ultimate reclamation project. After the Patriots and Jaguars experiments went sideways, he landed in Santa Clara and actually looked... good? When Purdy was sidelined for a massive eight-week stretch early in the 2025 season, Jones stepped in and won five games. He’s playing on a one-year deal worth about $3.98 million, which is basically a steal for a backup who can actually win NFL games.
Kurtis Rourke is the name most casual fans miss. He’s a seventh-round rookie out of Indiana who spent the entire 2025 season on the Non-Football Injury (NFI) list. He was recovering from an ACL tear he suffered in college. The Niners are keeping him around as a long-term developmental piece because he has the size and the "processing" traits Shanahan loves. He’s essentially a redshirt freshman at this point.
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Adrian Martinez is the wild card on the practice squad. He’s been the standout of the UFL and has enough mobility to give the defense a good look during the week, but he’s not someone they want starting a playoff game yet.
Why the Backup Spot Actually Matters in San Francisco
You can't talk about the 49'ers QB depth chart without acknowledging the "Shanahan Tax." Kyle’s offense is famously hard on quarterbacks. Not because they’re getting hit more than others—though with a revolving door at right tackle sometimes, they are—but because of the volume of information.
Mac Jones was a perfect fit because he’s a "processor." He might not have a cannon for an arm, but he understands where the ball is supposed to go. That’s why he was able to win five games while Purdy was out. He didn't try to be a hero; he just gave the ball to Christian McCaffrey and stayed out of the way.
Most people think a backup is just an insurance policy. In San Francisco, the backup is more like a co-pilot. Given Purdy's injury history—the UCL tear in '23, the toe and shoulder stuff in '25—the QB2 on this depth chart might be the most important non-starter in the league.
The Contract Reality and the 2026 Outlook
The money situation is where things get complicated. Purdy is locked in until 2030, but the team actually has an "out" after the 2026 season if things go south. They won't use it, obviously, unless something catastrophic happens, but it’s there.
The real question is Mac Jones. He’s a free agent after this postseason. Given how well he played when Purdy was down, some quarterback-needy team is going to offer him more than the $4 million the 49ers are paying him. If Jones walks, the 49'ers QB depth chart looks incredibly thin. You’d be looking at a guy in Rourke who hasn't played a snap of pro ball as your primary backup.
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What the Niners need to do this offseason:
- Prioritize a veteran backup: If Mac Jones leaves for a starting job (or a bigger backup check), they cannot rely solely on Rourke. Look for them to kick the tires on someone like Drew Lock or even a veteran like Sam Darnold again if he hits the market.
- Manage Purdy's workload: The 2025 season showed that Purdy is human. He’s tough as nails, but the "warrior" mentality is starting to result in late-season fades.
- The O-Line Factor: You can't fix the QB depth chart without fixing the protection. Trent Williams isn't getting any younger, and the right side of that line is still a question mark.
Final Insights for the 2026 Offseason
The 49'ers QB depth chart is top-heavy and currently carries a lot of injury baggage. While Brock Purdy is the face of the franchise, the stability provided by Mac Jones in 2025 was the only reason the team even made the playoffs.
If you're a fan or a bettor, keep a close eye on the backup signings this March. If the Niners don't replace Jones with a high-floor veteran, they are one Purdy ankle sprain away from a lost season. The system is great, but as we saw against Seattle, even the best system fails when the guy pulling the trigger is playing at 60% health.
The move right now is to watch the "legal tampering" period. If the Niners move quickly to secure a veteran QB2, it means they are worried about Purdy's long-term durability. If they stand pat with Rourke, they’re gambling big on "Mr. Irrelevant" staying healthy for 17+ games.