Gotta give credit where credit is due: San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch continues to signal his unwavering support for current Niners quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.
“I’ve watched people go through this in their careers where they struggled early,” Lynch recently said on “The Eye Test for Two” podcast. “It happened to me early, and then I went eight years without missing a practice. So I believe things can happen, and I believe they will for him. I really believe that Jimmy is our guy.”
That’s a pretty strong statement. It also will absolutely not stop outlets (including this one) from speculating about other quarterbacks. You might call that clickbait, but it’s actually not! Since the dawn of sports media, general managers and coaches have affirmed their support for big-name players over and over again, then shipped them out of town the second a better option presented itself.
And it is plainly obvious there are better options out there. The exact availability of superstars like Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson and Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson is still difficult to parse out, but there’s substantive reporting that both players are not happy with their respective franchises. So where does that leave the 49ers? Here are a couple of scenarios for 2021.
Keep Jimmy G, acquire a new backup
Skepticism aside, Lynch does seem to genuinely think highly of Garoppolo. If he were completely fed up with the Niners quarterback, we’d know by now. So yes, Garoppolo returning to the team and nabbing the starting job does remain the most likely option.
Lynch did note that, assuming Garoppolo is back, he wants to acquire a better backup quarterback. “When [Garoppolo is] healthy, he’s played at a high level,” Lynch said on the same podcast. “But we probably have to add someone. We probably need to improve ourselves, so if he’s not there, we’re all right [and] we can win games.”
That does not bode well for C.J. Beathard and Nick Mullens, who are free agents. Josh Rosen figures to stick around, but San Francisco could go a few directions for their other backup spot. They could sign a free agent … or they could draft somebody.
Trade up for Justin Fields
The Niners are slated to pick No. 12 overall, when there’s expected to be a drop-off at the quarterback position. But in his latest mock draft, ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper has San Francisco trading up to No. 7 — where the Detroit Lions sit — and selecting Ohio State star Justin Fields. The dynamic junior threw for 63 touchdowns and 9 interceptions during his two years as the full-time starter, though he wasn’t as strong in his final season.
In this scenario, the 49ers roll with Jimmy G for one more year — give him a final chance at staying injury-free and leading the team back to the playoffs — and then would presumably turn to Fields in 2022. It makes a lot of sense, and might make for the smoothest transition, though it costs the Niners a shot at drafting a high-impact, every-down player for 2021.
Trade for Deshaun Watson
Yes, we’re still keeping an eye on Watson rumors. On Thursday, he sent out the following cryptic tweet.
A couple hours later, a bunch of reporting started flooding in that Watson had spoken to new Texans coach David Culley and it did not go well.
And then reports emerged that the Texans aren’t talking to teams about trade offers … but teams are leaving messages anyway. Houston can continue this game of chicken for a little longer, but if Watson holds his ground through the NFL Draft, the Texans are going to have to be realistic about next steps. The Miami Dolphins have perhaps the best package to offer since they have two first-round picks, but the 49ers could put together something decent, too.
What’s going on with Russell Wilson?
Chatter about Wilson’s unhappiness in Seattle is at an all-time high. ESPN’s Adam Schefter tapered the rumors a bit, tweeting Thursday that the Seahawks quarterback hasn’t formally requested a trade and “wants to play in Seattle,” though he would also be okay with playing for the Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints, Chicago Bears and Las Vegas Raiders.
Noticeably missing from that list are the 49ers, which makes sense considering they play in the same division as the Seahawks. If Wilson were actually traded away, however, it would still have a net positive effect on San Francisco’s championship aspirations. As NBC Sports Bay Area’s Josh Schrock points out, the Niners would have a much easier path to the playoffs — even with Jimmy G as their starter — were the Seahawks to enter into a rebuilding phase.
