Head coach Kyle Shanahan has said that he expects Jimmy Garoppolo to be the starting quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers next season. He's still holding out hope of a return this season. Garoppolo has been sidelined since suffering a high-ankle sprain on November 1.
"That's hopefully going to be the last couple of weeks, whether it's two games or one game or none," Shanahan said last week.
Of course, the decision to bring Garoppolo back will likely depend on whether or not the 49ers' playoff hopes remain alive. One more loss could seal their fate.
Still, there is Garoppolo's salary-cap consuming contract. Many still feel Shanahan and company could choose to move on from the quarterback.
"With a team-friendly contract, the 49ers could very easily cut the franchise quarterback," wrote NFL Media analyst David Carr, "or they could trade him if he waives his no-trade clause in 2021 (which means he would have to agree to go to the team the trade is with)."
That leads to the discussion of replacement options. Various names have been discussed. Could San Francisco go with a veteran like Matt Ryan or look to the draft for a salary-cap-friendlier quarterback of the future?
Another name that has been thrown out in recent weeks is Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford. He's a veteran who many feel has been held back by the lack of talent around him.
Carr seems to like a 49ers-Stafford marriage.
"John Lynch and Shanahan have proven to be very aggressive with personnel moves in the past," continued Carr, "so I could see them making a big move for the right player. Sam Darnold or Carson Wentz would thrive under Shanahan, but the one player the offensive guru should have his eye on is Matthew Stafford."
Stafford has completed 63.3 percent of his passes for 3,278 yards with 21 touchdowns and nine interceptions this season. The Lions are in the middle of an organizational transition after firing head coach Matt Patricia and general manager Bob Quinn in November.
"There's been talk of Stafford and the Lions parting ways this coming offseason," added Carr, "and I can't think of a better option than to put Stafford on a team that has a legitimate chance to get back to the Super Bowl (if healthy). The product Shanahan and Stafford would put on the field would rival that of Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes, and it would be glorious."