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The one move that defined the 2018 NFL season for all 32 teams

By Erik Lambert

ALAMEDA, CA - JANUARY 09: Oakland Raiders new head coach Jon Gruden looks on during a news conference at Oakland Raiders headquarters on January 9, 2018 in Alameda, California. Jon Gruden has returned to the Oakland Raiders after leaving the team in 2001. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
ALAMEDA, CA - JANUARY 09: Oakland Raiders new head coach Jon Gruden looks on during a news conference at Oakland Raiders headquarters on January 9, 2018 in Alameda, California. Jon Gruden has returned to the Oakland Raiders after leaving the team in 2001. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) /
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SANTA CLARA, CA – DECEMBER 09: Quarterback Nick Mullens #4 of the San Francisco 49ers takes a snap against the Denver Broncos at Levi’s Stadium on December 9, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA – DECEMBER 09: Quarterback Nick Mullens #4 of the San Francisco 49ers takes a snap against the Denver Broncos at Levi’s Stadium on December 9, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /

San Francisco 49ers: Signing Nick Mullens

It was nothing more than a blip on the radar screen. Nick Mullen was signed by the 49ers as an undrafted free agent to provide depth behind Jimmy Garoppolo and C.J. Beathard. Nothing more. Not a single person expected there was even a remote possibility that the rookie would see a single snap in 2018. As has been proven many times, the NFL can often lay waste to a teams’ prior plans. That was the case for the 49ers.

Both Garoppolo and Beathard went down with injuries over the course of the season, forcing the team to turn to Mullens. All things considered, they’ve gotten way more than they have any right to expect from an undrafted rookie. He’s helped them win two games against the Raiders and Broncos while throwing nine touchdowns to six interceptions. It hasn’t always been pretty, but under normal circumstances, this would be a one-win football team.

Every cloud has a silver lining and that’s Mullens.

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