Josh Rosen is back on the road.
The former UCLA football quarterback was retired by the San Francisco 49ers on Tuesday, marking the end of his eight-month tenure on the bay. Rosen, who was number 10 overall in the 2018 NFL Draft, has now been to four teams in less than four seasons and will look to add a fifth to that list in the coming days.
Rosen spent one season with the Arizona Cardinals, who then traded him to the Miami Dolphins the following spring. The Dolphins waived roses in September 2020 when he then joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers practice team before signing a deal with the 49ers in December.
In San Francisco’s week 1 preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday, Rosen went 10v15 with 93 passing yards, one interception, and a 55.7 passer score.
Not only is Rosen currently not on an NFL roster, he’s the only quarterback selected in the first round of the 2018 draft and won’t be a Week 1 starter in 2021. Baker Mayfield last led the Cleveland Browns into the playoffs season, Sam Darnold is at the top of the Carolina Panthers depth chart, Josh Allen emerged as an MVP candidate for the Buffalo Bills, and Lamar Jackson has already won this award as a signal caller for the Baltimore Ravens.
In Rosen’s place, the 49ers cornerback Devontae Harrie challenged the Baltimore Ravens, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Rosen’s previous team, the Buccaneers, designed Florida’s Kyle Trask in the 2021 NFL draft and still has Blaine Gabbert as the second-tier quarterback. As a result, Rosen would likely be back on the training team should he go back south to learn more from Tom Brady. The New England Patriots have shown interest in roses multiple times in the past, but Cam Newton and rookie Mac Jones are battling for the starting job while veteran Brian Hoyer takes third place.
The Musical Chairs game, which takes place on NFL squads during preseason, could give Rosen an option or two for the future. From today’s perspective, however, the line of applicants for Rosen’s services is likely to be shorter than ever before.
