Until Jimmy Garoppolo gets healthy, turns things around, and starts proving his doubters wrong, there will be a lot of talk surrounding the San Francisco 49ers quarterback position. Yes, Garoppolo played hurt on Sunday against the Miami Dolphins, but he already entered the season surrounded by much criticism.
Is Garoppolo the guy in San Francisco? Is he the long-term solution for Kyle Shanahan? At this point, those questions seem fair. This season will reveal a lot.
The hosts over at Good Morning Football discussed Garoppolo and potential replacements for the quarterback, should Shanahan and the 49ers choose to go in another direction. Simply parting ways with Garoppolo after the season, by the way, can be done with little salary-cap implications.
As Daniel Jeremiah on Tuesday, Peter Schrager threw out the suggestion of a reunion between Shanahan and Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan. While the salary-cap numbers may not make sense, the fit may. Given the Falcons just fired coach Dan Quinn and their general manager, Thomas Dimitroff, the discussion does make some sense.
"The Falcons are 0-5 right now," Schrager said. "Matt Ryan and Kyle Shanahan went to a Super Bowl together. If you're the 49ers, would you be willing to move on from Garoppolo, and say here's Jimmy G and a first-round pick for Matt Ryan at the trade deadline?"
Kyle Brandt didn't seem too keen on the idea and feels the 49ers might be able to do something in the draft.
"Peter, I would not take that, just because I don't think that highly of Matt Ryan," Brandt responded. "I want that draft pick if I'm the Niners because if you look at their schedule, I think they're about to drop about four out of the next five games. We want the draft pick. I would not do it. The only choice is to stick with Jimmy."
Nate Burleson suggests another name as a possibility.
"I'll throw another one out there," Burleson said. "... I don't think Matt Ryan is the answer. I personally don't think Matt Ryan is the answer. I know Matt Ryan hasn't played terrible, and Matt Ryan is a better quarterback than Jimmy G, but I don't think he's the answer, and I don't think you'd be willing to give up that much for Matt Ryan.
"I'll throw this out there Schrags, and I'm looking way forward. How about the Dallas Cowboys, if they let Dak Prescott walk, which is possible. Maybe Jerry Jones is saying, 'I'm not playing this much money for a guy with a busted up ankle.' What about Dak Prescott as the most sought after free agent this offseason, he lands in Kyle Shanahan's system? Dak Prescott surrounded by that talent in San Francisco."
Right now, the 49ers sit alone at the bottom of the NFC West, with the Seattle Seahawks at the top at 5-0 and the Los Angeles Rams — San Francisco's next opponent — close behind at 4-1.
Adds Kay Adams: "I think they're playing for their season against the Rams. They lose this one, and it's impossible to catch up to the Seahawks and LA."