Following their acquisition of Gardner Minshew, the Eagles have cut a quarterback. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that the team has released Nick Mullens.
[RELATED: Jaguars Trade QB Gardner Minshew To Eagles]
Mullens had spent the first four seasons of his career with the 49ers, seeing time in 19 games (16 starts). While San Francisco only went 5-11 in those 16 starts, Mullens still put up respectable numbers, completing 64.5-percent of his passes for 4,714 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 22 interceptions. That included a 2020 campaign where the 26-year-old tossed 12 touchdowns while guiding the 49ers to a 2-6 record in eight starts.
Mullens inked a one-year deal with the Eagles back in June, and he was expected to serve as a third quarterback behind Jalen Hurts and Joe Flacco. However, the organization pivoted a bit this morning, acquiring Minshew from the Jaguars. As a result, Mullens earned his walking papers, making him a free agent.
Considering the quarterback’s starting experience, there’s a good chance Mullens finds another gig as a backup. In fact, several reporters (including Brian Costello of the New York Post and Ralph Vacchiano of SNY) speculate that Mullens could be an option for the Jets. Besides his connection to current head coach (and former 49ers defensive coordinator) Robert Saleh, Mullens is also familiar with current Jets offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur, who had spent the previous four years serving as San Francisco’s passing game coordinator. Plus, as Vacchiano tweets, the Jets got a recent up-close look at Mullens; the team participated in joint practices with the Eagles this week, and Mullens completed 10 of his 14 pass attempts in last night’s preseason contest.
Yeah, I saw this one coming even before the Minshew trade. I think the Jets will keep Josh Johnson as the backup to start, put Mullens on the 53 as the third string, release Mike White, and put Captain Morgan on the PS once he clears waivers.
He was awful in camp so despite being ok last night it was a forgone conclusion he was getting released.
It was hilarious when niner fans wanted mullens to start over garrapolo. Football fans are incredible dumb
Well as a niners fans I don’t want mullens back but watching the jimmy g show the last couple years it’s real easy to say we want something else
got you to the freaking Super Bowl when he was healthy…
Any other division in the league the Eagles would be fighting for last place.In the NFC Least they might be good enough to lose in the first round of the playoffs
QBs like Mullens and KIzer can only pray another iteration of the XFL launches soon.
Mullens is a perfectly viable BU quarterback in the NFL. He won’t stay unemployed for long. That Mullens was not a huge success as a starter makes him more employable: having him on the bench does not generate a QB controversy against a competent starting QB.