The San Francisco 49ers could go in several directions with the quarterback position this offseason. Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch could stick with Jimmy Garoppolo, which they have indicated they would. But that was before the friction between Deshaun Watson and the Houston Texans developed. It was before Matthew Stafford and the Detroit Lions agreed to part ways. It was before Aaron Rodgers sounded like he was questioning his future with the Green Bay Packers.
Could the 49ers contemplate moving on from the quarterback who, not too long ago, helped them reach a Super Bowl?
Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice joined 95.7 The Game on Monday morning and was asked who he would prefer for his former team. Would he want Garoppolo, Watson, Stafford, or Rodgers if the decision were up to him?
"I'm going with the Ferrari. I told you, I'm going with Watson," Rice responded while laughing. "I'm going with Watson. I'm all in because I want to make a statement, saying, 'Hey, look, we're not just trying to put a Band-Aid on anything. We are trying to win a Super Bowl. And I think they have the perfect opportunity if they can get this guy.
"Matthew Stafford, I know he's leaving out of Detroit, but I don't know if this guy's got that 'it factor.' I know that Deshaun Watson, he has that 'it factor,' and we're just a couple of pieces away. Either you're going to say to the fans, 'Hey, we're just going to try to put a Band-Aid on this. We're not trying to win right now.' Or we're going to go out and get that Ferrari, and say, 'Hey, let's go.'"
Rice pointed out that Stafford has yet to win a playoff game throughout his 12-year career and questions whether he has the "it factor" needed to carry a team.
"Montana had it," Rice commented. "Steve Young had it. It's something about a quarterback, like with Tom Brady. He's got that 'it factor.' He makes everybody better around him. I'm not saying he doesn't have that, but if you don't have a quarterback that can make everyone better around you just by stepping under the center, being on the field, then you have to look somewhere else."
What about Rodgers, who grew up a fan of the 49ers but was passed up by the team in favor of Alex Smith during the 2005 draft? While Rice isn't sure Rodgers remains in Green Bay, he doesn't necessarily see San Francisco as an option for the veteran quarterback.
"Aaron is not going to want to come here," Rice declared. "He doesn't want to come here because the 49ers didn't draft him. He's still got that grudge. He's still got that on his shoulders."
You can listen to the entire conversation with Rice below.