Mullens’ success has added intrigue
A day after 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman mentioned it, head coach Kyle Shanahan didn’t dismiss it.
And so this question isn’t just talk-radio filler: Will the 49ers trade super-sub quarterback Nick Mullens in the offseason?
The reasons to deal him appear clear. In 2019, the 49ers will get starter Jimmy Garoppolo back and the team’s QB cupboard wouldn’t be bare if Mullens were traded. Shanahan retains an affinity for C.J. Beathard and has declared his two backups will be “dead even” when they start competing in the offseason.
In addition, the 49ers certainly could use an extra draft pick. They have a
variety of roster holes and only five picks in the 2019 draft.
And, finally, there is the matter of Mullens’ performance: After inheriting the starting job on a 1-7 team, he owns a 3-3 record and his statistics over six starts are impressive. His pace, were it over a 16-game season, would result in 4,677 passing yards with 27 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. For perspective, only 18 QBs in NFL history have thrown for at least 4,677 yards in a season.
On Sunday, after Mullens helped lead the 49ers to their first win over the Seahawks since 2013, Sherman looked to the offseason and said: “I hope we can keep him because teams need a quarterback . ... He could be a starter for a lot of teams.”
On Monday, Shanahan smiled when he was jokingly asked about Sherman driving up Mullens’ trade value. He turned serious when asked about potentially trading a backup QB in the offseason.
“I mean, you’re open to anything possible that improves your team,” Shanahan said. “That’s not just backups. ... You have an obligation to do whatever you think is right to give your organization the best chance to win.
“I think backups are extremely valuable — not just at the quarterback position — but everywhere. Usually you have to win with backups and you hope to stay healthy all of the time, but very rarely does that happen. Backups can be the difference in a season.”
Shanahan’s answer noted Mullens’ potential value to the 2019 49ers, but didn’t dismiss trading him for good value.
And value could be the issue that prevents the 49ers from parting with Mullens: It’s uncertain they could fetch even a fourth-round pick in return.
For starters, Mullens went undrafted last year and NFL suitors might need more than an eight-start sample size to convince them their 2017 evaluation of him was wildly off the mark.
And there is also the question of how much Mullens is benefiting from Shanahan’s system.
Matt Schaub, a solid NFL QB, was spectacular when Shanahan was his play-caller with the Texans. In 2009, Schaub led the league in passing yards with 4,770.
Similarly, Robert Griffin III, who has started 12 games in the past five seasons, was the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2012 with Shanahan in Washington. And Atlanta’s Matt Ryan won his only NFL MVP award and threw for the 13th-most yards (4,944) in league history with Shanahan in Atlanta in 2016.
Mullens hasn’t hidden how much he’s been boosted by the offense. After he threw for 332 yards in a win over Denver on Dec. 9, Mullens suggested it wasn’t really that hard.
Tight end George Kittle “was open every play, man,” Mullens said. “It was crazy. Shoot, all the receivers were. That’s why I give the coaches so much credit. The guys were wide open.”
On Wednesday, after his 275-yard performance against the Seahawks, Mullens was asked about Shanahan’s ability to scheme players open.
Mullens smiled. “I missed two totally wide-open touchdowns on Sunday,” he said.
Even if Mullens is partly a product of Shanahan’s system, it’s worth noting Beathard wasn’t flourishing with Shanahan calling the plays. And Mullens’ 2018 performance could provide some peace of mind in 2019 considering Garoppolo already has been sidelined with injuries twice in his 10-start career.
Still, the question of whether the 49ers will shop Mullens or receive inquiries this offseason is interesting.
To everyone, that is, except Mullens.
“Who knows, man,” Mullens said when asked about trade chatter. “To me, it doesn’t really matter. I love the 49ers. I’d be here as long as I could. But that stuff does not matter.” Eric Branch is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: ebranch@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Eric_Branch