If you were an NFL team in need of a good quarterback, this offseason might have been one of the best in recent years to go out and get yourself one. San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch has even admitted that head coach Kyle Shanahan's master plan was always to try and land Kirk Cousins.
The situation changed when the 49ers traded for New England Patriots quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo on October 30, 2017. Even with that move, Garoppolo had to prove himself to Shanahan and the 49ers, and it still took the head coach weeks to get over the thought of not being reunited with Cousins.
"The reason it took a few weeks was because we weren't going to lock ourselves into an unknown," Shanahan told ESPN's Adam Schefter in April. "We knew a guy, possibly like Kirk Cousins, was going to become available most likely in free agency. We also didn't have one win so we thought we might have the first pick in the draft and a bunch of good quarterbacks are coming out.
"So we knew we were in a good situation and we weren't just going to jump in (and say), 'Hey, we've got Jimmy. He's played in two games. Let's sign him long-term and just bypass maybe the first pick in the draft or someone like Kirk in free agency.'
"So we just played it out [to] see what would happen. Jimmy went out there and played very well. In the first game, I was extremely excited. In the second game, I was even more excited. By the third game, I think we all kind of forgot about free agency and about the draft and we're like, 'Alright, we can isolate on one guy right now.' And we were very happy that it happened."
The 49ers locked up Garoppolo to a five-year deal worth up to $137.5 million and Cousins is now in Minnesota.
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While the future looks bright for the 49ers with Garoppolo, back in New England, rumors continue to gather steam that Tom Brady, among other players, may not be thrilled with Bill Belichick and the Patriots. Rich Eisen spoke with Lynch this week and asked him if the 49ers would be going after Brady (again -- remember, they asked Belichick last year if he would trade him) if they did not already have Garoppolo.
"I'm just glad we have Jimmy G," Lynch responded after laughing. "I'm glad that thing worked itself out. I sure was glad as this draft was going on, this whole process, that we, in our minds, have our answer there.
"It wasn't a bad year to be needing a quarterback because both in free agency and the draft, there were a lot of options – more so than typical. But we were sure pleased to have Jimmy. Not only to have made that trade but to lock him up long term. He's a part of us, and we're thrilled about that."
Eisen asked Lynch if he has noticed Garoppolo being a free agent draw.
"No doubt about it," he answered. "Last year, you talk about having to sell people, there was one point when we landed Pierre Garçon and Marquise Goodwin and didn't have a quarterback. That's a difficult conversation. 'Just trust us guys. We're going to get you a guy.'
"Fortunately, they listened, and they believed in us. And fortunately, things fell our way with Jimmy, and we were able to land a guy. It is becoming a destination. The way to continue to make that a destination is win football games, and that's what we're working really hard to try to accomplish this season."
