Robert Turbin: Jimmy Garoppolo, not Trey Lance, gives 49ers 'best chance' to win now

The Carolina Panthers agreed to acquire quarterback Baker Mayfield from the Cleveland Browns last week and, in the process, took themselves out of the running for San Francisco 49ers veteran Jimmy Garoppolo. 

Garoppolo remains attached to the 49ers even though it's widely assumed 2021 rookie Trey Lance will enter training camp later this month as the team's starter, and Jimmy G has interestingly been linked with the division-rival Seattle Seahawks by multiple individuals. As some continue to raise questions about Lance's physical attributes, one person recently argued that Garoppolo should stay atop San Francisco's depth chart through this fall. 

Per David Bonilla of 49ers WebZone, former pro running back Robert Turbin explained during a segment that NFL Network aired on Monday evening why he'd keep Garoppolo around if he was making roster calls for the Niners.

"I think the team that needs Jimmy Garoppolo the most, honestly, is the 49ers," Turbin remarked. "I think he needs to stay put where he is, absolutely. They've been to the NFC Championship Game two of the last three years, making a Super Bowl appearance one of those years.

"We know he's had some health issues, but he's a proven winner as well. He gives them the best chance to win. He's been a consistent leader. The guys on the offense know him. They have great chemistry amongst one another."

Lance served as San Francisco's QB1 for springtime workouts as Garoppolo recovered from March shoulder surgery, but Turbin seems to view the 22-year-old more as a project for the future than as somebody who can hoist the Vince Lombardi Trophy as soon as February. 

"And if you're the 49ers, you should play this patiently with Trey Lance," Turbin continued during his comments. "Jimmy Garoppolo, if you want to win right now, gives you the best chance while Trey Lance can continue to develop as a quarterback."

This was hardly the first time somebody within the NFL community has publicly named Garoppolo as the better option over Lance for the 2022 season.