49ers Beat:
S.F. loses Beathard to Jaguars.
The Jaguars added a 49ers quarterback on Wednesday, which invites speculation: Will Jacksonville be sending the 49ers one of its quarterbacks?
Jacksonville reportedly signed C.J. Beathard to a twoyear, $5 million deal with incentives, a contract that suggests the 49ers’ 2017 thirdround pick will serve as the secondstringer. The Jaguars are expected to select Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence next month with the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft.
Beathard’s arrival likely increases the chances the Jaguars will trade Gardner Minshew, 24, who has started 20 games since he was a sixthround pick in 2019. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler wrote Wednesday that Minshew has been rumored as a 49ers trade target.
That would make sense, given the 49ers’ need for a quality backup behind Jimmy Garoppolo and Minshew’s cost and credentials. In addition, there is a lack of appealing options remaining on the freeagent market.
Minshew, who has base salaries of $850,000 and $965,000, respectively, the next two seasons, has a 62.9 completion percentage and 93.1 passer rating in his career. He has thrown 37 touchdown passes and 11 interceptions and rushed for 497 yards (5.2 yards per attempt). Minshew played for the 49ers’ coaching staff at the 2019 Senior Bowl.
Among the 32 quarterbacks who have thrown at least 500 passes since 2019, Minshew ranks 17th in passer rating and 25th in completion percentage. An appealing statistic to 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan: Minshew, who has thrown nine interceptions in his 20 starts, ranks fourth in interception percentage (1.38). Minshew is tied for sixth with 18 fumbles (11 lost) over that span.
Interceptions are a reason the 49ers have been looking to upgrade from Beathard and Nick Mullens, who combined to throw 28 picks in their 23 starts over the past three seasons. Mullens, an unrestricted free agent, is rehabbing from elbow surgery.
Running back to Jets: Running back Tevin Coleman, 27, signed a oneyear deal with the Jets after his twoseason tenure with the 49ers ended with a forgettable season. Coleman can earn a maximum of $2 million, ESPN reported.
Last season, Coleman missed eight games with a knee injury and rushed for 53 yards on 28 carries. Coleman has the secondlowest yards per attempt (1.9) among the 98 running backs with at least 20 carries in 2020. Jordan Howard had 60 yards on 35 carries (1.7) with the Dolphins and Eagles.
Coleman will reunite with former 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, the Jets’ new head coach. New York offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur was the 49ers’ passinggame coordinator.