There’s at least a “chance” that Jimmy Garoppolo could wind up as the 49ers’ starting quarterback next year. At least, that’s what head coach Kyle Shanahan told Niners beat writers on Wednesday afternoon (via Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle). 
“I think there’s a chance for anything, but I think we made it pretty clear that Trey [Lance] is our guy of the future, whenever that’ll happen,” Shanahan said. “But it was also nothing against Jimmy that we [drafted] him. But we do believe Trey will be our guy of the future. And like I said, I think it’ll be really hard if Jimmy’s [playing well] for [Lance] to beat [him] out right away. So it is kind of going like that right now and I’m not thinking much past that.”
The Niners sacrificed two future first-round draft picks to move up nine spots and select Lance. After that, many expected GM John Lynch to send Garoppolo elsewhere and recoup some of that ammo. Instead, they kept the veteran and installed him as the Week 1 starter. Lance, meanwhile, has started just once, filling in while Garoppolo nursed a calf strain. The rookie looked awful green against the Cardinals, allowing Jimmy GQ to immediately reclaim his job.
Garoppolo may be the better option for 2021, but it’s still hard to imagine him staying on board next year. Keeping the veteran for 2022 would saddle the 49ers with a ~$27MM cap charge. Meanwhile, trading or cutting him would only leave them with $1.4MM in dead money. Lance — this year’s No. 3 overall pick — will carry a much lower $7.75MM cap figure.
If lance can shake the kaep veneer and work on his arm it could happen. Not gonna work if he’s running on 40% of snaps
The 49ers work best when they’re predominantly running the ball, and then work off the playaction in the passing game.
I think this could really work out well for Lance, he just has to practice, shake off the rust, and then continue to work to flourish next season. It will be a bumpy road at first for Lance, but I believe he’s surrounded with enough weapons, a good enough OL, a solid running game, and a coach that will scheme him up the right plays to be successful..
As long as I keep in mind that I have to be patient, I think Lance will be a solid QB for the 49ers moving forward..
It’s not 1995 anymore son.
I do agree with one point: if the 49ers have the best WR’s, RB, OL and a top 5
Defense, then yes you could stick Lance or any QB out there and have a shot
Worked for Trent Dilfer.
Exactly
Niners fans punching the air rn
Bust to give up what they did to pick a QB so high to not have him step in and be the guy immediately.
Lmao so Patrick maholmes was a bust because he started one game his rookie year? This is a terrible take. Tell me how that’s working for jags jets and bears. Jimmy is better than Mac right now too so your take makes zero sense.
While I agree that Lance hasn’t had enough time to earn a “bust” label, he and Mahomes were very different in terms of picks. Mahomes was not a top three pick, and KC gave up less to get him. Also, Mahomes was never a run first quarterback, and though he needed time to develop, he started off better than Lance has.
Again, I am not objectively saying that Lance is a bust, but he without question is far behind where Mahomes was coming into the league and cost his team more to get him. Mahomes needed work too, but he was a lot further along than Lance. I don’t think it’s a good comparison.
At least Mahomes got the starting job the next year.
Lance will start next year Kyle has said that over and over
And yet this whole article is about him potentially not starting. They gave up enough to get that high, so of course he’ll eventually start some games, they have to justify his selection.
“And like I said, I think it’ll be really hard if Jimmy’s [playing well] for [Lance] to beat [him] out right away. So it is kind of going like that right now and I’m not thinking much past that.”
Just because they gave up a ton doesn’t mean they have to start him right away. Only teams who don’t have a short term option start rookies. 49ers have 5 wins and all because of jimmy g not Lance .
As a retired NFL scout here’s my take…Trey Lance has a lot of “Jordan Love” qualities; immense raw skills, like a pitcher who can throw 100 mph., but is extremely wild. My guess is Lance never pans out and the 49ers keep JG as long as possible. Expect the 49ers to draft another QB in 3-5 years
Bingo, but 2-3 years.
Do they have a first rounder in 2 years? I’m not sure if they traded it.
Also Jimmy G not a bad quarterback, he just can’t stay healthy
Agree.
They just can’t afford Jimmy from a cap stand point. They took a qb mostly because Jimmy can’t stay healthy and they need the rookie qb contract. They’ll move on in the off-season and reallocate his salary to build up the rest of the roster.
As a retired guy on the sideline Shanahan won’t be around when they have to draft a new QB or maybe even John Lynch. They have messed around for years under that regime and only a SB loss to show for it. Shanahan can’t even win without Jimmy G being the QB. Meanwhile and I hate to say it but Belicheat with Mac Jones hasn’t missed a beat. Now remind me again what a “ Genius” Shanahan is?
Shamahan tries to talk a good game in front of the media but he’s an idiot. The only thing he knows for certain about the Niners QB situation is that Kaepernick won’t be starting.
Lance and Love looked very similar to me (as a not ever affiliated with the NFL civilian) as well. Lance is a better physical athlete than Love (which isn’t to say that Love is not), but they have similar strengths. Both are also worlds away-many worlds away-from being viable NFL starters at the moment. Will they get there? Maybe, but in Lance’s case, his utter lack of experience is going to make that transition take longer than it would otherwise.
What’s the point of trading away THREE first round picks to get Trey Lance if you won’t commit to him?
Kyle has bluntly said over and over he’s the future, he can’t make it anymore clear.
Except he hasn’t been definitively clear.
“And like I said, I think it’ll be really hard if Jimmy’s [playing well] for [Lance] to beat [him] out right away. So it is kind of going like that right now and I’m not thinking much past that.”
TWO. They gave away TWO first round picks. This gets old
Like many teams all searching for their franchise QB, they got caught up in 5hat search and gave up too much. Then brought him in and probably realize he’s in over his head, he’ll have to sit, watch and learn more than first expected.
Trey Lance is absolute trash and you’re kidding yourself if you think otherwise. It was a franchise altering move when they could have stayed pat, Drafted Mac Jones and kept their 2 first rounders. The question is who will be held accountable for such an awful move.
Let’s give up 3 first round picks for a guy who will not play for three years. Brilliant thinking
While I do agree, there is one thing that the 9ers did do that most teams don’t-they retained their proven starter so there wouldn’t be any urgency to start Lance. Thing is, you can’t “train up” someone sitting on the bench. Players can only learn so much there, and Lance’s biggest problem is lack of game experience. That’s at any level, let along NFL level.
So I see what the 9ers did by recognizing that, and I know Lynch trusted his coach to go out and get his guy. But Shanahan is overestimating his coaching abilities if he thinks he can play both sides of the coin here. Lance needs to start to get experience. If Lance starts, however, they won’t win, and will have to go through a rebuild essentially. It’s a huge gamble to take the risk that Lance will one day be worth it, both in terms of picks and time taken to develop (and all the current players who will likely be gone by then), and we’ll see if it pans out.
Shanahan is betting heavily on himself here by getting Lynch to take long term potential (potential, not guaranteed) over more immediate readiness. Mac Jones may possibly have been not have been as good in San Fran as he is in NE, but he likely would have been closer to starting. Alternatively, if the goal is to still win in the short term, the 9ers could have gotten a high volume backup to cover for Garappolo’s injury concerns (aka the Raiders and Mariota or the Cowboys with Dalton or the Colts with Brissett) who could start multiple games while they wait on a more sure fire QB prospect to come into their hands.
At the end of the day, Lance needs game experience, and there’s no guarantee that he’ll improve to match his advertised potential even with that. San Fran has to pick between winning with Garappolo (and their current roster) and developing lance, which could take enough time as to leave them without some of their other roster contributors by the time he’s ready.
In today’s NFL you don’t give up why they did to get a guy and give him a “redshirt” year or two.
I agree, completely. But that’s where they sit now. Shanahan is, in my opinion, too confident in his own abilities. You can’t just create experience through film sessions, no matter how good (or bad) you may be.
Much ado about nothing. Mahomes sat in season one too. Lance’s time is coming sooner rather than later.
We’ve seen this movie countless times before. It almost always ends badly for those who depend on “potential” becoming reality.
If Rodgers result is available this offseason I can see the 49ers going after him, letting Jimmy leave and then handing it over to Lance once Rodgers is either done or when Lance is kicking down the door. Can’t see Jimmy back next season regardless but I’ve felt all along they will try to bring in Rodgers if he gets traded or becomes a free agent.