The San Francisco 49ers did not select a late-round quarterback this year, but ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports that the team will sign Wisconsin’s Tanner Mordecai as an undrafted free agency following the draft.
Wisconsin offensive coordinator Phil Longo referred to him as a “warrior” and said he made a significant impact in just one season with the Badgers. Mordecai, who has previously played for Oklahoma and SMU, will join Brock Purdy, Joshua Dobbs, and Brandon Allen as the 49ers’ fourth quarterback.
“I tell Tanner every day that I wish I had him for three or four years,” Longo told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in December 2023. “And I just appreciate him as a person, as a warrior. Coaches use that word a lot, but he’s one of the toughest quarterbacks I’ve ever coached.”
“From a mental standpoint and a physical standpoint. He’s been that way since the day he got here. It’s 100% who and what he is. That’s what we were looking for in our quarterback and we got it. The only regret I have is that he was injured,” Longo added.
Because Mordecai injured his hand, he only threw for 2,006 yards and nine touchdowns versus four interceptions in 2023. He also garnered 304 yards rushing and four touchdowns.
Mordecai may compete in camp and possibly make the practice squad until he impresses the 49ers coaching staff enough to overtake Allen or Dobbs. The 49ers experienced a similar situation on the final day of the 2022 draft, when they selected Purdy with the final pick.
