San Francisco 49ers CEO Jed York spoke with Rich Eisen today and discussed the team's quarterback situation. The Niners drafted Trey Lance at No. 3 overall, surrendering a haul of picks to move up and get him. However, San Francisco held onto veteran Jimmy Garoppolo because doing so gives the team the best chance to win right now. The 49ers have a championship-caliber roster in place, after all.
York reiterated what he said last month. He has no problem paying to keep both quarterbacks, even though a quicker transition from Garoppolo to Lance would mean more salary-cap savings or money that the 49ers can spend elsewhere. York is even fine with the cost for the next two seasons, if necessary, especially if that means a better chance of sustained success.
"We love Jimmy," York said on the Rich Eisen Show. "He got us to a Super Bowl. There's a lot of great things to like about Jimmy, and that's the thing when you're looking at the quarterback position. The amount of money that a quarterback demands and it sort of takes to field someone that's not a rookie is a lot of money, and there's obviously a savings to having a rookie quarterback.
"So, some of that savings goes to a guy that can help you get back to a Super Bowl, a guy that can play very, very well when he's stayed healthy and has done a great job like he did in 2019 for us. I have no problem having two really, really good answers at quarterback there and allowing a young guy, who just turned 21, to get his sea legs, sort of speak, under him. I have no issue with that whatsoever."
That doesn't mean that York doesn't believe the 49ers can also win with Lance at the helm of the offense. The CEO feels the roster has enough talent to compete no matter who is under center. However, Garoppolo has the advantage of being very familiar with the playbook, and keeping gives Lance the extra time necessary to absorb the offense fully.
"Obviously, we didn't have the year that we wanted last year, in terms of our record," York continued. "But the things that we overcame as an organization, as a team, the injuries that we had, being kicked out of our home and going to Arizona, I think we showed a lot of fortitude. And I feel like we can compete right now whether Jimmy's the quarterback, whether Trey's the quarterback, whoever it is. And if Jimmy gives us the best chance to win, then Jimmy's going to be our quarterback."
York added that he is comfortable with whatever amount of money needs to be spent so long as the team achieves the expected result.
You can watch the entire interview with York below. He also discusses the process of trading up to the No. 3 overall spot to select Lance.