The San Francisco 49ers have three options when it comes to Jimmy Garoppolo. They can trade the veteran quarterback, hold onto him, or release him. The trade options have dwindled in the four months since Garoppolo underwent shoulder surgery. Holding onto him would be a financially costly move and might create an awkward situation with second-year quarterback Trey Lance poised to start.
On Friday, Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young joined KNBR and shared that, once healthy, he believes Garoppolo will ask the 49ers for his release.
"If Jimmy requests a release, I can't imagine a scenario where they tell him, 'No, you're staying,'" Young said on the Tolbert & Copes show. "And I can't imagine Jimmy not getting to the place where he passes his physical, that he doesn't ask for his release."
Young still believes Garoppolo remaining on the 49ers roster during the 2022 season is unlikely. However, he isn't dismissive of the possibility. Nor does Young believe the 49ers are worried about the awkwardness that such a scenario might create.
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The other unknown is Lance's progress. He started just two games in 2021—his rookie campaign. No one knows for sure what the 49ers have in the 22-year-old quarterback. He could be an upgrade over Garoppolo. Then again, he could be a hindrance for the Niners.
The fact that San Francisco used the No. 3 overall pick in last year's draft to select Lance, and traded up to do so, means that he needs to get on the field. If he can't, it would be viewed as a disaster by those seeking to criticize the development plan.
"I don't know that we're going to know exactly what Trey is at the end of the season," Young shared. "It's going to take some time. It's not like, 'Oh, we don't know anything about Trey, so we're going to keep Jimmy. I just think there's a scenario where maybe Jimmy's willing to [stay].
"It's all about money at some level, but I think Jimmy will probably pass his physical and ask to be released. And then when that happens, I can't imagine a scenario where [the 49ers] don't give it to him. … But again, if they keep Jimmy and Jimmy plays and stays, do not make it a referendum on Trey, necessarily, and don't think that they're afraid of the awkwardness because they're not."
You can listen to the entire conversation with Young below.