T
he San Francisco 49ers are hitting the ground running. Now that the NFL Draft is in the rearview mirror, teams will begin rookie minicamps, where the newest additions to the NFL will get the chance to train with their respective teams for the first time. For the 49ers, this year’s rookies may not make an immediate impact, but their long term development is critical for the team’s future success.
But not everyone participating at the 49ers’ rookie minicamp is in their first year in the NFL. Quarterback Kurtis Rourke, who the 49ers selected in the seventh round of the 2025 draft, took part in rookie camp this year. Missing all of last year rehabbing from a torn ACL, Rourke’s first season in the NFL was a redshirt year, treating this season as his true rookie year. Well Rourke is not the only player excited for his rookie year. FanSided’s Niner Noise recently wrote an article, and called Rourke the 49ers’ biggest name to watch this offseason, clearly excited to see what the former Indiana Hoosier star has to offer in the NFL.
Rourke Is One to Watch
Rourke is competing with Adrian Martinez to be the 49ers’ No. 3 quarterback this season, given how Brock Purdy is locked in as the starter and Mac Jones as the backup. And while a third string quarterback competition is nothing to talk about, it is the implications for 2027 that make Rourke a player to watch.
In the Niner Noise article, Jones’ future was brought up, with him set to hit free agency after this season. And expected to generate a lot of interest from teams in need of a starting quarterback, Rourke is competing to be the backup quarterback of the future for the 49ers. Showing major success at Indiana, guiding the Hoosiers to their first ever College Football Playoff appearance while throwing for 3,042 yards, 29 touchdowns and five interceptions in his lone campaign there, Rourke has proven he can succeed at a high level. All Rourke needs to do is show is show flashes of that throughout the offseason and training camp, and it will be hard for the 49ers to ignore him.
Rourke’s Development
Rourke may not have taken a single snap last year but just being around the team and spending a year in an NFL setting could speed run Rourke’s development and help him feel more comfortable when he first steps out onto the field. If that is the case, and a situation arises where a team needs a new starter and call the 49ers for Jones, the team may be more comfortable moving Jones if they feel like Rourke is ready.
But if Rourke does not work out, it is not a big deal since the 49ers invested so little in him. Either way, the 49ers will use these next couple of months to see where Rourke is add and evaluate from there.
Former Indiana Quarterback Named a Player to Watch for the 49ers