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Mike Tannenbaum made his opinion on the San Francisco 49ers' quarterback situation very clear this week. The former NFL executive turned analyst was asked on ESPN's GetUp if the move from Jimmy Garoppolo, who enjoyed a lot of success in his four-and-a-half year run as the Niners' starting quarterback, to second-year quarterback Trey Lance is a risk.
"Yes, and it's an unnecessary one," Tannenbaum said bluntly. "You have a great quarterback in Jimmy Garoppolo, who over the last three years has taken your team to the Super Bowl and the [NFC] Championship Game. I love Trey Lance. I think his upside is compelling. But why would you risk not playing Jimmy Garoppolo, especially early, when you have a team that can win right now?
"When Jimmy Garoppolo plays, and I know it's not a team stat, but 70 percent of the time, they win. That matters to me. They average 28 points. That matters to me. He's been productive, in that system, with that team. So to me, I like Lance long-term, but short-term, I am playing Jimmy Garoppolo."
For 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan, the time for the transition was right. After all, his team invested a lot in Lance, trading a haul of draft capital to move up to select the former North Dakota State quarterback with the No. 3 overall pick.
Shanahan and general manager John Lynch also had to consider the future. Even factoring in wide receiver Deebo Samuel's new contract extension, Garoppolo owns the highest average salary on the roster. At some point, that would hinder what the 49ers could do to maintain a competitive team.
"You've got to make tough decisions in this business," Shanahan explained this week on the I Am Athlete podcast. "And the more you learn about salary cap, the more you learn about how to keep a hold of your players ... I thought Jimmy played great in that Super Bowl year, but I also know how great of a team we had. And they were young. And it gets harder and harder to keep these guys.
"Going forward, we kind of saw how hard it would be to keep guys like Deebo, sign guys like Fred [Warner], like [George] Kittle. We know we're going to end up paying [Nick] Bosa a lot of money. So you look at all that stuff, and getting a guy on a rookie quarterback [contract] was a big part of that."
The 49ers have time with Bosa. His rookie contract runs through the upcoming season, and, as expected, the team exercised its fifth-year option on the talented pass rusher in April. In addition, stars like Samuel, Kittle, and Warner are signed through at least the 2025 season. That means four solid seasons of talent around Lance, creating a nice championship window for the Niners.
"And I love that we're giving a good team to Trey to where he doesn't have to do it on his own, just like I didn't believe Jimmy had to," Shanahan continued. "And you try to build a team to where it's not just about the quarterback. And when you get in the time where you can have a guy play like a top-five guy, which is so rare ... not many people get that. ... That stuff is tough to find. And when you do get that, yeah, you ride that forever.
"But the position is so tough that in the meantime, you always want to build that team to have a chance. And if you get the right guy behind center with the right team, they don't have to be one of the best of all time, but you definitely want them to have the ability to grow to try to always get there."
Why one analyst is worried for Brock Purdy if 49ers trade Brandon Aiyuk
By David Bonilla
Apr 18
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy achieved a remarkable feat in 2023, setting a single-season franchise record with 4,280 passing yards. This accomplishment is noteworthy, considering the illustrious quarterbacks who have graced the organization's history.
A significant portion of those yards came from wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, who amassed a career-high and team-leading 1,342 receiving yards. Most of his 75 catches originated from passes thrown by Purdy.
Amidst significant offseason chatter surrounding the 49ers' star receiver, including several unsubstantiated trade rumors, Aiyuk's future remains uncertain. Former NFL player James Jones, now an analyst, expressed concern for Purdy should Aiyuk's tenure in the Bay Area come to an end.
"I
Why ESPN analyst hopes 49ers address O-line in the draft
By David Bonilla
Apr 9
ESPN analyst Matt Miller watches the San Francisco 49ers differently than other teams. As a 49ers fan, he feels more invested in the team's successes and failures than most analysts.
With the draft nearing, Miller made it clear which direction he believes head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch should take with their first pick. In his ESPN mock draft, a seven-round doozy, the analyst had the 49ers selecting former Arizona offensive lineman Jordan Morgan.
Miller recently joined the 49ers Webzone "No Huddle" podcast, sharing why he adamantly hopes the team addresses the offensive line at the end of the month.
"So I
ESPN analyst on Brandon Aiyuk: 49ers shouldn't pay two receivers top dollar
By David Bonilla
Apr 9
ESPN analyst Matt Miller understands the perspective of San Francisco 49ers fans. After all, he has been a fan of the team since he was a kid. Seeing any of your favorite players leave and put on another uniform is tough.
It's also difficult to pay everyone, and Miller knows that. It's not a formula for successful roster building, including paying two wide receivers top dollar.
The 49ers are trying to negotiate a contract extension with wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. The team invested heavily in another receiver, Deebo Samuel, just two years ago. Is allowing each of them to consume a significant chunk of the salary cap feasible for a team that hopes to continue being competitive and win Super Bowls?
"I have to separate the fan part of my brain, who
ESPN analyst weighs in on 49ers potentially drafting a wide receiver
By David Bonilla
Apr 10
The San Francisco 49ers will likely add a rookie wide receiver via the draft, and it has nothing to do with Brandon Aiyuk's current contract situation. Deebo Samuel is about as physical a player as you'll find at the position, so wear and tear, along with his significant salary, has to be a concern. Jauan Jennings is slated to become an unrestricted free agent next year.
The 49ers have tried to address the position recently, drafting Ronnie Bell in the seventh round last year and Danny Gray in the third round in 2022. While it's too early to judge Bell, Gray has played only 87 offensive snaps as a pro. His career stat line is unimpressive, recording only one reception for 10 yards on seven targets.
One ESPN analyst and 49ers fan, Matt Miller, admits to being
