49ers could keep Jimmy Garoppolo for another season?
There are more whispers that the San Francisco 49ers could realistically keep veteran quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo as their starter for one more year so 2021 rookie Trey Lance can continue to grow and develop as a backup.
Adam Schefter of ESPN mentioned this possibility before the NFL Scouting Combine, and ESPN's Football Outsiders noted for a piece published on March 4 that a 49ers team ready "to win more now" may trust Garoppolo more than Lance even as the 30-year-old recovers from surgery he needed earlier this month to repair a torn capsule in his throwing shoulder.
Since Friday, the Cleveland Browns, Indianapolis Colts, Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints all seemingly removed themselves from any Garoppolo sweepstakes. The Athletic's Jeff Howe wrote Monday the 49ers could continue to evaluate Lance at least until Garoppolo is cleared for throwing exercises in June or July, and NFL Network's Ian Rapoport explained during a Tuesday appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show" why he believes Garoppolo could ultimately remain with his current employer through the fall months.
Per David Bonilla of 49ers WebZone, Rapoport shot down a rumor claiming that 49ers general manager John Lynch told teams he'd received an offer of two second-round draft picks for Garoppolo. Rapoport added he doesn't think such a proposal could've come from either the Seattle Seahawks or Carolina Panthers.
"Is anyone trading for Jimmy G right now just off surgery? I'm still not so sure about that, so I imagine, if they had that offer, they would take it," Rapoport said. "Lynch isn't a big bluster guy. He doesn't lie. He's a pretty regular dude. I have a hard time imagining he would say that unless he really had it.
"I'll tell you this: The longer we go in this thing, and Jimmy G is still on the Niners, makes me think that they could keep him. I mean, he led them into the playoffs last year. I know it wasn't perfect but would it be the craziest thing in the world to keep him and let Trey Lance learn for another year? I could think of worse outcomes for the 49ers.
"I just don't see a spot for him (Garoppolo)."
In short, it sounds as if Lance could "lose" the San Francisco starting job while Garoppolo is sidelined this spring.
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