GM John Lynch: 49ers can afford to be patient making decision on Jimmy Garoppolo

While speaking with reporters at the NFL's annual meetings last month, San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch said that there was "real good momentum" regarding talks with other teams about trading veteran quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo before Garoppolo underwent surgery earlier in March to repair a torn capsule in his throwing shoulder. 

Per Kevin Patra of the league's website, Lynch claimed at that time that the 49ers "budgeted for Garoppolo's $26.95 million cap hit" for the 2022 season, and both Lynch and team CEO Jed York have said Garoppolo could remain on the roster as a backup for 2021 rookie Trey Lance through at least the beginning of the campaign. On Monday, Lynch again suggested he had serious conversations with other clubs about trading Garoppolo this past winter and also added there's no hurry to move the 30-year-old before, during, or after the draft that begins Thursday night. 

"There were certainly various discussions with different places in terms of how far along. . . .That certainly threw a wrench in those things," Lynch explained, according to Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk. "You adapt and you move forward. Like we said, we like the things that Jimmy brings to the table. We’re doing what we think is best for our team and for Jimmy by keeping him with us for right now." 

Lynch continued: 

"He’s a good player at a position where they’re hard to find. You certainly just don’t give guys like that away and we can, I guess, foot the bill if you want to describe it as that. We’ll be patient with that one." 

During a recent appearance on the "I Am Athlete" podcast, 49ers All-Pro tight end George Kittle remarked he is "kind of 50-50, right in the middle" regarding who he'd rather catch passes from between Garoppolo and Lance. If Lance continues to allegedly be "greener than people realize" through the summer, Jimmy G could find himself under center while wearing San Francisco colors in September.