If you thought Kyle Shanahan was ready to kick the four-QB obsession to the curb, think again. San Francisco just used a seventh-round pick on Kurtis Rourke, a tough-as-nails quarterback who, by the way, played a whole season on a torn ACL. “We’re in a situation where, you know, getting a guy with a torn ACL and he probably won’t be cleared by training camp, it’ll be close, but um, you know, it’s not an issue for us right now,” Shanahan said. Translation? Kyle’s playing the long game while stocking his shelves for the future.
You might wonder: why invest in a wounded QB now? Well, David Lombardi broke it down perfectly: “They’re looking for the fourth quarterback in the room, and they’re looking for the most valuable position in the game, the most important position in the game, to be under contract for four years.” Makes sense, right? It’s not about today; it’s about locking up value like you’re playing Monopoly and hoarding Boardwalk.
But let’s not pretend this is a totally new trick. Kyle’s been that guy before. Remember the 2022 NFC Championship meltdown when the 49ers ran out of QBs? Shanahan learned the hard way — no amount of talent matters if your depth chart’s thinner than paper. “I think the 49ers just want to make sure that they have four in the building every single season,” Lombardi added, putting the final nail in the ‘this-isn’t-a-surprise’ coffin.
So here we are: Brock Purdy, Mac Jones, Tanner Mordecai, and now Kurtis Rourke. Four QBs, one slightly damaged ACL, and Kyle looking like a kid in a candy store. Lombardi even joked, “Curtis Rourke will try to become the next Brock Purdy.” No pressure, right? Just go from seventh-round flier to franchise savior — casual stuff.
Maybe not the part where Purdy’s still waiting to sign the new contract. Now that the draft is over, there’s nothing — and I mean nothing — standing in the way. Reports already say Purdy’s market is hovering around $55 million per year, putting him right next to Jalen Hurts in the NFL’s payday hierarchy. So, it’d be good to get that sorted.
And you can bet Kyle would get it done because even David confirmed they aren’t going after anymore QBs now. Room filled. Door closed. Now, the work needs to start and as for Rourke? Well, there’s a lot of 2026 remaining for him to shine.
Kyle Shanahan knows Brock is the best guy to show Kyle how it’s done
Back in January, Kyle Shanahan didn’t leave much room for guessing. “Brock is the leader of our team,” he said, plain and simple. And if you thought that was just coachspeak? Think again. Shanahan doubled down: “I plan on being with Brock here the whole time I’m here.” You don’t say that about a guy unless you’re ready to build your entire Sunday around him. So, it’s only a new contract standing in the way to rubber stamp that statement!
But you know Kyle meant it when he called Brock a leader after San Francisco’s decision to snag Kurtis Rourke in the seventh round. Drafting a rehabbing QB like Rourke says two things: we trust Brock (to lead the way), and we’re setting up the next man for later who can learn from Purdy.
But about Rourke; as Shanahan put it, “I think he [Rourke] would have gone a lot higher if he was healthy.” It’s not a rancid statement because in one season at Indiana he torched record books. 29 touchdowns, over 3,000 passing yards, and a sparkling 181.4 passer efficiency rating. Oh, and he did all that while secretly playing through a torn ACL. Rourke said it himself: “I’m just happy that I didn’t get an MRI until after the season.”
Now, for the big injury update. Rourke told reporters, “I’m in a really good spot, really excited about where I am,” adding he’s eager to get rolling with the 49ers’ medical team. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero backed that up, reporting that the medical team has largely cleared Rourke to throw and should be full-go for camp. Think about it: Shanahan’s QB room is finally stacked how he likes it. Starting with a field general (Brock), a former first-rounder (Mac Jones), and a project with a high ceiling (Rourke).
Bottom line: Kyle Shanahan’s not just saying Brock Purdy is the guy for fun’s sake. He’s building the roster like it. Now, a contract in the mid-tier 50-55 Ms would basically just end this saga once and for all.
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