The 49ers do not head into the offseason with quarterback ranking among their top needs.
But things could change after coach Kyle Shanahan and his staff get the opportunity to work with five promising players next week at the Senior Bowl.
The Senior Bowl put together a collection of the top nine eligible quarterbacks to take part in the week of practices and the Jan. 26 game in Mobile, Alabama. Buffalo quarterback Tyree Jackson was a late addition over the weekend as a fourth-year junior graduate who declared for the draft.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
The 49ers believe they already have three NFL-caliber quarterbacks on their roster. Jimmy Garoppolo is expected to return from a torn ACL suffered in Week 3 to regain his starting job during the offseason program. Nick Mullens and C.J. Beathard are scheduled to compete for the backup role. The 49ers will likely add a fourth quarterback to their 90-man offseason roster.
Here are the five quarterbacks who have been assigned to the 49ers-coached South squad:
Tyree Jackson, Buffalo, 6-7, 245
He has the size, strength and natural throwing ability – similar to Josh Allen a year ago – that will undoubtedly prompt some team to take him within the first two rounds of the draft. He completed 55.3 percent of his passes las season, so he needs to work on his accuracy. He threw for 3,131 yars with 28 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Although he rushed for only 161 yards, he scored seven TDs.
Projected: Early rounds
Will Grier, West Virginia, 6-2, 223
Grier skipped the Mountaineers bowl game to focus (and remain healthy) for the draft. In his final season, he completed 67 percent of his passes for 3,864 passing yards and 37 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
Projected: Early rounds
San Francisco 49ers
Clayton Thorson, Northwestern, 6-4, 226
He’s got good size and a big arm, but the production was often lacking. He completed 61 percent of his passes with 3,183 yards throwing, but he had 17 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.
Projected: Mid rounds
Jarrett Stidham, Auburn, 6-3, 215
If he had declared for the draft a year ago, he might have been a first-round pick. But he returned to school and his play, as well as his team’s record, went downhill. He completed 60.7 percent of his passes for 2,794 yards and 18 touchdowns.
Projected: Mid rounds
Gardner Minshew II, Washington State, 6-2, 220
He was the Pac-12’s Offensive Player of the Year after leading the nation in passing with 373.1 yards per game. He completed 70.7 percent of his passes for 4,776 yards with 38 TDs and nine interceptions. But in Mike Leach’s offense, he was not required to make many NFL-type throws.
Projected: Late rounds
North quarterbacks
These players have been assigned to the Raiders-coached North squad:
Drew Lock, Missouri, 6-4, 225
Projected: Early rounds
Daniel Jones, Duke, 6-5, 220
Projected: Early rounds
Ryan Finley, North Carolina State, 6-4, 212
Projected: Early rounds
Trace McSorley, Penn State, 6-0, 203
Projected: Late rounds