Report: Broncos asked about trading for one of the 49ers backup quarterbacks

During the Rams’ broadcast of Saturday Night’s preseason game against the Denver Broncos, NFL Network’s Andrew Siciliano, Nate Burleson, and Mina Kimes dropped a bomb. The broadcast crew said that the Broncos approached the 49ers about a trade. This was as Denver’s backup quarterbacks were struggling to move the ball down the field. If you have NFL Gamepass, go to the first quarter with just over nine minutes left. That’s when the discussion began.

Burleson said during joint practices that John Elway, the Broncos general manager, inquired trading for one of the 49ers’ backup quarterbacks Nick Mullens or C.J. Beathard. The 49ers were not interested and told Elway that they would be holding onto both quarterbacks.

I’m fascinated by this for several reasons. The Broncos will be without second-round pick QB Drew Lock who is out indefinitely with a hand injury. That leaves Kevin Hogan and Brett Rypien as their backups. Not great, Bob. Elway must have offered next to nothing to the Niners backups. What do you think it was, a Day 3 pick next year? That’d be my guess. An offer along the lines of a fifth-round pick that can turn into a fourth. If that’s the case, then it makes sense to turn the deal down. Perhaps Elway offered to swap backup quarterbacks with a late-round pick. Still, I could see why you say no to that.

While I believe Shanahan will keep all three quarterbacks to start the season, he’s probably under the impression that he can get a better offer down the line at some point. Neither Mullens or Beathard would last a day on the Niners practice squad.

Could this be a sign of things to come?