The San Francisco 49ers today announced the team has signed OL Charlie Heck to a one-year deal. In order to make room on the roster, the team placed OL Jaylon Moore on the Injured Reserve List.
Heck (6-8, 311) was originally drafted by the Texans in the fourth round (126th overall) of the 2020 NFL Draft. Throughout his five-year career, he has appeared in 48 games (21 starts) with the Texans (2020-23) and Arizona Cardinals (2024). He also appeared in two postseason contests with the Texans (2023). Heck signed to the Cardinals practice squad on November 19, 2024.
A 28-year-old native of Evanston, IL, Heck attended the University of North Carolina (2016-19) where he appeared in 43 games (34 starts) and earned Second-Team All-ACC his senior season (2019).
Moore (6-4, 311) appeared in 15 games (five starts) this season.
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The 49ers Almost Certainly will Sign a Quarterback this Offseason
That’s because Brandon Allen and Joshua Dobbs both will be free agents. And neither one needs to return. Brock Purdy needs a better backup, someone who can push him like Sam Darnold pushed him in 2023.
That year, Purdy was coming off a torn UCL and the 49ers wanted to make sure they had the most talented quarterback room possible. So they added Darnold to a quarterback room that already had Purdy and Trey Lance. Which means the 49ers had two former no. 3 picks competing to be the backup. Darnold of course won the competition, and now is having an outstanding season as the Minnesota Vikings starting quarterback.
The 49ers could trade Purdy and sign Darnold, or they could keep Purdy and try to find the next Darnold. Meaning a former first-round pick with starting experience who was unfairly labeled a bust in his 20s.
Impending free agent quarterbacks who fit that description: Carson Wentz, Daniel Jones, Mac Jones, Justin Fields, Zach Wilson, Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota.
Expect the 49ers to sign at least one of those players. Because they’ll be cheap, and they have the talent to potentially flourish on the 49ers. Unlike Brandon Allen and Joshua Dobbs, who are third-string quarterbacks. Guys who shouldn’t be active on game days.
Who knows, maybe Daniel Jones would be a winning quarterback if he got to play with George Kittle, Christian McCaffrey, Brandon Aiyuk and Jauan Jennings?
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