NFL Insider Expects the 49ers to Sign Baker Mayfield

Mayfield was the No. 1 pick in the 2018, but has played for three teams since 2021. Most recently, he played for the Rams after the Panthers waived him midseason.

The mystery appears to be over.

The washed up former starting quarterback who's now just a backup that the 49ers will try to sign to a cheap one-year deal this offseason is Baker Mayfield, according to Albert Breer.

"Niners GM John Lynch conceded this week that the timing of Brock Purdy's surgery on his injured right elbow could force the team's hand on looking for a veteran to throw into the mix," Breer wrote. "I don't, for what it's worth, think that San Francisco's going to break the bank. But I could absolutely see Lynch and Kyle Shanahan going in on someone like Baker Mayfield, who has experience in that type of offense and a boatload of starting experience. Keep an eye on that one."

Mayfield was the No. 1 pick in the 2018, but has played for three teams since 2021. Most recently, he played for the Rams after the Panthers waived him midseason.

If the 49ers could have claimed Mayfield off waivers last year, I'm guessing they would have, because Jimmy Garoppolo was injured and Brock Purdy still was a question mark, but the Rams had waiver priority and beat them to the bunch. I'm also guessing the 49ers think they could have won a Super Bowl with Mayfield last season, because they seem to think they can win one with any average quarterback.

If the 49ers do indeed sign Mayfield, that could indicate the 49ers expect Purdy to miss some or all of 2022 following his elbow surgery. He still hasn't had the procedure.

For what it's worth, Mayfield and Purdy are similar -- they're the exact same height. Mayfield even has a stronger arm than Purdy. But Mayfield also is less accurate, less mobile, less of a leader, less professional and simply not as good.

I asked my father, Lowell Cohn, who was a sports columnist in the Bay Area for 40 years, what he thinks about Mayfield. Here's what my dad said:

"There's nothing I like about him. He seemed equally interested in a TV career in commercials as being a quarterback, and I don't think you can do both. I think his priorities were all screwed up. I think he can play well in stretches but he will kill you."

Buyer beware.