San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan has an excellent track record when it comes to elevating quarterbacks to a level where they can succeed consistently in the NFL.

As such, the 49ers are an obvious landing spot for any quarterback looking to rebuild their reputation after a shaky start to their career.

Sam Darnold opted to do just that last year, signing to be a backup with the 49ers on a one-year deal. The former third overall pick beat Trey Lance for the No. 2 role behind Brock Purdy and played sparingly, but capably, in relief and in one start in a Week 18 dead rubber.

It is therefore perhaps no surprise that, given Shanahan's success in turning Purdy into a top-half starter in the league, his previous winning seasons with Jimmy Garoppolo and the high-end backup play he got from the likes of C.J. Beathard and Nick Mullens, the 49ers were reported by ESPN's Dan Graziano last week as being an "intriguing option" for New York Jets draft bust Zach Wilson.

The former second overall pick has been given permission to seek a trade after another frustrating campaign in 2023, in which he largely struggled and was in and out of the lineup after Aaron Rodgers went down injured four plays into his Jets career.

Wilson is a quarterback whose confidence has long since looked completely shot. From his point of view, there may be arguably no better place to get it back than the NFL's ultimate quarterback incubator in the Bay Area, playing in an offense he is familiar with having spent his first two seasons with Shanahan acolyte Mike LaFleur as his offensive coordinator.

However, there is little reason a trade would make sense for San Francisco. Yes, the Niners do need a backup for Purdy as both Darnold and Brandon Allen are unrestricted free agents, but investing in a reserve who has shown little ability to excel even with some outstanding offensive weapons and a strong defense around him would be a gamble on the Niners' part, even at a likely price point of a late-round pick.

The 49ers need somebody in whom they could have confidence if Purdy went down. Three seasons into his NFL career, that is categorically not Wilson.

More pertinently, per Over The Cap, the 49ers would be on the hook for a guaranteed salary of $5.45 million in 2024. San Francisco is projected to be $285,281 over the league's salary cap of $255.4 million.

Put simply, taking on that guaranteed salary for a quarterback reclamation project that has a good chance of failing would be malpractice for a team looking to put its superstar core in an even better position this season after coming up agonizingly short in Super Bowl 58. 

The 49ers perennially exist in win-now mode. While they would likely look to rework Wilson's contract in any potential trade scenario, using up cap room, and a draft pick, for Wilson would be damaging to their hopes of achieving their ultimate goal.

Instead, the 49ers should look to sign a veteran on the most affordable deal possible and use a draft pick on a developmental rookie from a deep quarterback class filled with prospects that have significant college experience under their belts.

The 49ers will be aggressive this offseason when it calls for it. They do not have to be aggressive in addressing backup quarterback, and a trade for Wilson is something that shouldn't even be considered by the San Francisco front office.

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They want him around for the long term.