Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Videos are auto-populated by an affiliate. This site has no control over the videos that appear above.
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."
Related News
With only nine days remaining until the start of the 2024 NFL Draft, Good Morning Football's Peter Schrager revealed his first mock draft of the year. While most might expect the San Francisco 49ers to target an offensive lineman, Schrager has the team bolstering its wide receiver corps with an SEC talent.
Schrager has the 49ers using the No. 31 overall pick to select former Georgia wide receiver Ladd McConkey, whose 2023 campaign with the Bulldogs was limited by back and ankle injuries.
"McConkey in the first round? Yes," Schrager wrote. "Above guys like Troy Franklin and Keon Coleman? Perhaps. I've spoken to a
San Francisco 49ers GM John Lynch and Offensive Line coach Chris Foerster were in Seattle on Saturday scouting prospects of the Washington Huskies. While Washington has multiple talented draft prospects, the fact that Foerster was accompanying Lynch is notable considering Washington has two offensive linemen who are getting a lot of attention—Troy Fautanu and Roger Rosengarten.
Per source, John Lynch, Chris Foerster looked at several Washington draft prospects today. Huskies are loaded with draft talent, including …WR: Rome Odunze, Ja'Lynn Polk, Jalen McMillanOL: Troy Fautanu, Roger RosengartenEDGE:
The San Francisco 49ers announced the signing of wide receiver Trent Taylor to a one-year deal, reuniting with the team's former fifth-round draft pick out of Louisiana Tech.
Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area was the first to report that the 49ers were discussing a potential reunion with Taylor. The receiver was part of head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch's first draft class in 2017 and spent his first four NFL seasons with the team.
The #49ers are talking with free-agent slot receiver/return man
The San Francisco 49ers are hosting several draft prospects this week as the deadline for pre-draft visits draws near. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2, the team will host former Western Kentucky wide receiver Malachi Corley on Wednesday.
Corley is expected to be a Day 2 pick. San Francisco owns two selections on Day 2—the No. 63 overall pick in the second round and the No. 94 overall pick in the third round. Currently, the receiver is visiting with the Seattle Seahawks.
Western Kentucky @WKUFootball receiver Malachi Worley
