One of those quarterbacks is probably going to be part of the San Francisco 49ers roster following the draft. Jimmy Garoppolo has been part of the roster since a mid-season trade in 2017 sent him from Foxborough to Santa Clara, where he is relied upon to stay for at least the forthcoming season.
Some keep thinking about whether plans could change, however.
There were reports that the 49ers look for a first-round pick for Garoppolo. Most who have been following the team realize that fundamentally implies San Francisco has no goal — for the time being — of trading its veteran quarterback and would have to be blown away by an offer to consider straying from its plan. That plan is to have Garoppolo serve as a bridge quarterback, permitting the incoming rookie to sit and learn for at least the upcoming season.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter recently talked with NBC Sports Bay Area and shared his contemplations on the 49ers’ quarterback circumstance and the plan for 2021.
“I think they head in with the idea that Garoppolo will be the Week 1 starter,” Schefter told Matt Maiocco. “I think that’s the plan today. Do plans change? Sometimes they do, right? That happens. If somebody makes an offer for Jimmy Garoppolo, do I think they’d listen? If it were compelling enough, sure, why not? Why wouldn’t you, right?
“I don’t know that any of that’s going to happen, and that’s why I believe that they are planning to go into the season with Jimmy Garoppolo as their starting quarterback.
“Plus, again, two of the last three seasons, he’s been hurt. So, if you have Jimmy, and he gets hurt, well, now you’ve got your rookie quarterback. You don’t have to throw the rookie quarterback into the fire right away. You can bring him along slowly, a lot like Kansas City did with Patrick Mahomes and Alex Smith.”
While Garoppolo as of late aided guide San Francisco to a Super Bowl, he has missed 23 games in the course of the last three seasons, including missing 10 games for 2020 because of an ankle injury. That has led numerous to question the quarterback’s durability and future with the association.
Garoppolo’s destiny was apparently sealed when the 49ers traded up to the No. 3 by and large pick, prone to obtain a substitution. Nonetheless, the quarterback finds a way into the group’s prompt plans. There is no enthusiasm to part ways with him.
“Now, again, if some team makes an offer that we don’t see today, that tempts them, that always can happen,” Schefter added. “But I believe that their plan, right now, is to have Jimmy be the starter, and we’ll see.”
