Following the NFL Draft, 49ers will sign a “Warrior” quarterback: Report

Tanner Mordecai, a quarterback from Wisconsin, will be added by John Lynch for depth.

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the San Francisco 49ers will sign Tanner Mordecai of Wisconsin as an undrafted free agent following the draft, despite not selecting a late-round quarterback this year.

He made a significant impact in his one season with the Badgers, according to Phil Longo, the offensive coordinator for Wisconsin, who referred to him as a “warrior”. After Josh Dobbs, Brandon Allen, and Brock Purdy, there will be four quarterbacks on the 49ers roster with the addition of Mordecai, who also played for Oklahoma and SMU.

I wish I had Tanner for three or four years, I tell him every day,” Longo stated in a December 2023 interview with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. And I just respect him for who he is as a person and as a fighter. He is one of the hardest quarterbacks I have ever coached, despite the fact that coaches use that term a lot.

both psychologically and physiologically. That is how he has always been from the day he arrived. That is who he is, without a doubt. We were able to find our quarterback with that quality. “My only regret is that he was hurt,” Longo continued.

Mordecai’s hand injury prevented him from throwing for more than 2,006 yards, nine touchdowns, and four interceptions in 2023. In addition, he ran for 304 yards and four touchdowns.

Unless he makes a lasting impression on the 49ers coaching staff that allows him to pass Allen or Dobbs, Mordecai can compete at camp and potentially make the practice squad. On the last day of the 2022 draft, the 49ers had a similar situation when they selected Purdy with the final pick.

Tanner Mordecai Had Greater Success Prior to the Badgers’ Loss
Originating from Waco, Texas, Mordecai spent three seasons as an undergraduate at Oklahoma, then spent two seasons at SMU before transferring to Wisconsin. Throughout his career, Mordecai passed for 9,857 yards, 85 touchdowns, and 27 interceptions.

He had his greatest seasons as a Mustang when he was a standout player at SMU. In 2021, Mordecai had 12 picks and completed 67.8% of his throws for 3,628 yards and 39 touchdowns. With 3,524 throwing yards, 33 touchdowns against 10 interceptions, he performed admirably in 2022.

For Toughness, Tanner Mordecai Overcame Fellow Badgers QB
Luke Fickell, a quarterback for the Badgers, remarked on Mordecai’s toughness in a similar manner to Longo. Last season, Fickell had to fill in for Mordecai, but following his return, Mordecai completed the season.

According to Fickell’s March Badger Notes, “there was never a hesitation at what he wanted to do and what he was going to do.” “There was no doubt as to whether he was going to play in this game or not. There’s a guy who played on a broken hand after three and a half weeks or four weeks, couldn’t clap for four weeks out there, I mean.”

“You know, in order to help us advance our program and kind of set an example of what things can look like when you really dive all in,” Fickel continued, “for him to go out and not just play the way he did but practice the way he did led the way that did.”

For Heavy.com, Matthew Davis writes about the NFL with an emphasis on the San Francisco 49ers, New England Patriots, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He has also covered Minnesota prep athletics since 2016 as a contributing writer for the StarTribune. Additional information on Matthew Davis