If you’ve been on the internet in the past 24-48 hours, you know there’s been talk that the San Francisco 49ers could still trade Mac Jones. But that would only happen if Kurtis Rourke can show the team that he has what it takes to be Brock Purdy’s backup.
Rourke fell to the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft after an ACL injury. He has the size at 6’4″, 220 pounds. He was a 6th-year senior who started 45 games. Unfortunately, the 2024 ACL injury wasn’t Rourke’s only one. He also tore his ACL late in 2022 and suffered a shoulder injury way back in 2020 before he transferred to Indiana.
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On the field, Rourke is the definition of a Kyle Shanahan quarterback. He has clean mechanics, knows where to go with the ball, and can quickly decipher what the defense is doing underneath to get the ball out on time. Rourke won’t wow you with a big arm. The velocity goes down on deeper passes. As you’d expect from a quarterback with two serious knee injuries, Rourke also isn’t the most fleet of foot. He’s closer to Mac Jones than Brock Purdy when it comes to pocket movement and manipulation.
But the 49ers aren’t asking Rourke to start. They need a reliable decision-maker who can “win in a pinch” if called upon. Is that Rourke? He’ll need to prove it in training camp.
Basic Info
Age: 25
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Experience: 1 accrued season
Height: 6’4
Weight: 220 pounds
Cap Status
Rourke is under contract through the 2028 season. His cap number in 2026 is under $1 million. His contract over the next three years likely contributes to the 49ers’ willingness to want him as a backup.
Who is Kurtis Rourke?
In May, offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak had this to say about Rourke:
“I got to see him, I think it was a couple weeks, he was able to practice and loved the arm talent. He’s a heck of a thrower. He’s big, he’s strong. He can stand in there and make every throw on the field. And we saw that from him when he was able to be on the field. Super bright guy, absorbs our playbook and our offense really well. He hasn’t missed a beat on that, and I’m excited to go see him out there and just put it all together and get reps with our guys, consistency, stack days, and just see how he gets better. We have high hopes for him, but I’m just excited about him as a player.”
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John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan said all of the right things about Rourke in the past. Lynch loved Rourke’s toughness after playing through an injury as a senior. The team didn’t draft a quarterback this past season because of how they feel about Rourke
Shanahan brought up Rourke’s size, how he throws, and said, “I love how he plays the position.” Rourke playing as much as he did in the collegiate ranks is a sign of a mature quarterback who has been in several hostile situations. Maybe he’s shown a level of calm during limited practice reps that makes him appealing.
Shanahan mentioning Rourke’s size first is noteworthy. With that frame, there has to be more upside than what was in a seventh-round pick. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Rourke develop a stronger arm than he showed in college.
Rourke will have plenty of opportunities to shine during the preseason. If he looks like he belongs, that could give the Niners enough confidence to move Mac Jones when other teams come calling. Rourke’s play isn’t just for a Jones trade. The 49ers will need to decide whether they re-sign Jones if no move is made after this season is over.
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