San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch made headlines on Wednesday with his comments about Jimmy Garoppolo. As many continue to speculate about the quarterback's future, wondering if Lynch and company will look to upgrade the position, the general manager offered up yet another vote of confidence in Garoppolo.
Lynch, appearing on the Eye Test for Two podcast, was asked if there is any doubt that Garoppolo is the team's quarterback in September, should he be injury-free.
"No," Lynch responded. "Not at all. I really believe that."
Lynch noted that availability is a concern, but the entire roster was impacted by injuries last season, not just Garoppolo.
"I've watched people go through this in their careers where they struggled (with injuries)," Lynch added. "It happened to me early, and then I went eight years without missing a practice. So, I believe that things can happen. I believe they will for him, and I really believe that Jimmy is our guy."
On Thursday, Peter Schrager of Good Morning Football commented on Lynch's perceived affirmation.
"What else is he supposed to say?" asked Schrager. "... Jimmy Garoppolo is under center, he's under contract, and if I'm the 49ers, if there's any way we can get Deshaun Watson, you go get Deshaun Watson. That's nothing against Jimmy Garoppolo, who I think has taken them to the Super Bowl, who I think is a very talented quarterback, and I think is a second-tier quarterback with the potential to maybe be a first-tier quarterback at some point in his career.
"Deshaun Watson is a first-tier quarterback. Deshaun Watson in Kyle Shanahan's offense would be a dream. And if Deshaun Watson is available, I think the 49ers have to absolutely be hammering the phones and calling Houston and saying, 'What's it going to take?' And if it doesn't mortgage the entire rest of the team, and you're not giving up (Nick) Bosa, Fred Warner -- look, you might have to give up Bosa and Fred Warner. That's how highly esteemed Deshaun Watson is.
"And for John Lynch to say that about Garoppolo when he's healthy -- Garoppolo hasn't been healthy. So, I think the Niners have every good intention to having Jimmy Garoppolo under center, but they wouldn't be doing their jobs ... if they didn't at least pick up the phone and call Houston and say, 'Is this a possibility?'"
Schrager adds that as the draft passes and the offseason progresses further, Garoppolo becomes more likely to be the 49ers starter come September as the quarterback picture settles around the league.
"Until that moment where Deshaun Watson is somewhere else, or it's already understood that he's coming back to Houston, I can't say Jimmy Garoppolo's (that guy)," Schrager continued. "If there's even a slim, slim, slim chance of Deshaun Watson, the 49ers have to keep that door open. That guy takes them to an all different level in the NFC. It could make them a Super Bowl contender right away."
Nate Burleson admits that Garoppolo's time in San Francisco hasn't lived up to the contract he signed in 2018. However, Schrager's Good Morning Football co-host isn't ready to say the 49ers should give up on their franchise quarterback.
"Give him one more year," Burleson said. "And I know you're going to have a cap hit the next couple of seasons -- give him one more year and figure out of this is the guy moving forward. This is a prove-it year for Jimmy G."
Schrager adds that it would be easy for Lynch to backpedal on his latest comments should the team pursue another option at quarterback and say that circumstances changed.
Said Schrager: "But in this moment, there is no win for John Lynch to say anything other than, 'Yes, Jimmy Garoppolo is our quarterback,' because he is."
