Maybe Jimmy Garoppolo was always the most realistic option for the San Francisco 49ers in 2021. There is no doubt that the team looked into the possibility of upgrading the quarterback position when Matthew Stafford became available. The cost became too high, and members of the 49ers' brass were not about to enter a bidding war to go from Garoppolo to Stafford.
So where does that leave the 49ers? Maybe back where they started. Both head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch have publicly expressed confidence in Garoppolo and said they expected him to be their starter in 2021. Of course, that doesn't mean you ignore an opportunity when it presents itself.
San Francisco passed on Stafford and will now have to compete against him at least twice a year after the Lions shipped him to the division-rival Los Angeles Rams for two future first-round picks, a third-rounder, and quarterback Jared Goff. It's the second offseason in a row that the 49ers have considered upgrading from Garoppolo.
NFL Draft Scout's Matt Miller believes there are three remaining realistic options for the 49ers — none of which are named Deshaun Watson. Let's face it, he's going to require an unprecedented trade package to pry him away from the Houston Texans.
Miller's first two options are rookie quarterbacks.
"With the No. 12 overall pick the Niners can pray Trey Lance (NDSU) is still on the board, but the more likely option would be Alabama's Mac Jones," the draft analyst wrote via Instagram.
Miller questions whether head coach Kyle Shanahan would be willing to throw a rookie quarterback out on the field right away, given the time it might take for a young player to become comfortable with his playbook and scheme.
Adds Miller: "But the biggest question is if head coach Kyle Shanahan would want to work with a rookie quarterback—something he doesn't have a reputation for desiring."
Of course, there is also a good chance that the 49ers draft a quarterback while holding onto Garoppolo. That would give a rookie the time he needs to learn behind a veteran who already understands the offense. Right now, the only two 49ers quarterbacks under contract are Garoppolo and Josh Johnson. C.J. Beathard is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent, Nick Mullens a restricted free agent, and Josh Rosen an exclusive-rights free agent.
San Francisco could also wait and see how the rest of the quarterback landscape around the NFL develops and if any other intriguing possibilities present themselves.
