Maybe the San Francisco 49ers will consider replacing quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo in next year's draft, or at least finding someone to groom behind him. According to Matt Miller of Bleacher Report, the team is reportedly "investing serious time" in evaluating the upcoming rookie class of passers.
"Speaking of quarterbacks, rumors around the scouting community indicate the San Francisco 49ers are investing serious time and resources into scouting signal-callers," Miller wrote in his recent scouting report feature for Bleacher Report.
Garoppolo has two years remaining on his contract after this season. However, the 49ers can part ways with their quarterback without too much of a salary-cap impact, should they choose to do so. Should they look to the draft for a quarterback, who might San Francisco be targeting?
Adds Miller: "One area scout told me the team has sent top evaluator Adam Peters to see BYU's Zach Wilson and Alabama's Mac Jones this season."
Of course, it could just mean that the 49ers are simply getting in some early homework and may eventually opt not to look toward the draft for a quarterback — or even seek another one at all. It's only November, after all. We'll just have to wait and see.
While Garoppolo has missed 16 games over the past three seasons, he helped lead the 49ers to Super Bowl LIV in his first full NFL season as a starter. The quarterback recently suffered his second high-ankle sprain of the season and is expected to be out until about Week 15.
Many have speculated that head coach Kyle Shanahan might be willing to give up on the quarterback for which they traded a second-round pick in 2017. The draft might be an option. Some have speculated that San Francisco might even be willing to trade for someone like Matt Ryan of the Atlanta Falcons or Sam Darnold of the New York Jets. Even Kirk Cousins' name has come up among rumors.
Garoppolo has completed 67.1 percent of his passes for 1,096 yards with seven touchdowns and five interceptions through six games this season.
H/t to Patrick Tulini for the find.