49ers Rumors: San Francisco Targeting Josh Freeman For Backup QB Job?
The 49ers have a long list of needs to address this offseason, but sooner or later, they're going to need a backup quarterback.
In 2014, Colin Kaepernick was backed up by Blaine Gabbert, who becomes a free agent this offseason. The 49ers repeatedly played an ailing Colin Kaepernick instead of Gabbert last season, and given that his last meaningful NFL minutes came in a season where he threw one TD and 7 INTs...we wouldn't expect to see the 49ers bring him back. Third-stringer Josh Johnson was repeatedly cut and re-signed to give the team roster flexibility, and while he could stick around, he's unlikely to see the field outside of the practice squad.
Enter Josh Freeman. Only 27, Freeman had an inconsistent start to his career in Tampa, but still has above-average career numbers - he's thrown 80 touchdowns and 67 INTs while completing 57.6% of his passes. Freeman's career derailed in Tampa Bay after he clashed with HC Greg Schiano, but there are plenty of folks around the league who still think the 2009 first-round draft pick can turn it around. He never really had a chance to succeed in a short-lived stint with the Minnesota Vikings later that season, as concussion symptoms prevented him from playing in more than one game.
Freeman also has strong ties to 49ers quarterbacks coach Steve Logan, who knows him from his three seasons with the Buccaneers. The 49ers have been interested in him in the past - first in October 2013 after his release from Tampa, then again in February 2014 after he left the Vikings. Talks broke down, however, and the 49es ultimately traded for Gabbert instead.
With Logan now on board, it didn't surprise us to hear Freeman's name mentioned as a backup QB target. There are several other options open to the 49ers - Matt Moore and Jason Campbell have both been discussed - but it sounds like Freeman is (at this point) San Francisco's most likely backup QB in 2015. Jim Tomsula needs someone who can step in if Colin Kaepernick gets hurt, and Freeman can be a more-than-serviceable backup now that h
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