Many experts believed Jimmy Garoppolo would be on a different team by now, but the quarterback stays with the 49ers. Speaking to reporters today (including Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle), GM John Lynch revealed some details about trade negotiations, noting that the 49ers were discussing a deal in late February that was eventually derailed by Garoppolo’s operation.
Now that the quarterback carousel is largely complete, Lynch admitted the front office is on hold on the Garoppolo front until a deal goes through. The GM even noted that Garappolo could start the season on the 49ers roster, and he dismissed the notion that the organization would fire the veteran QB.
“I don’t foresee that,” Lynch said. “He’s too good a player. I think Jimmy will play for us or someone else. He’s too good a player, not draft of the year. oh be.”
Of course, that wasn’t the intended plan after the 49ers gave up a boatload of picks to draft Trey Lance during last year’s draft. Lynch admitted this when speaking to reporters.
“We value strength in this position,” Lynch said. “But to be perfectly honest, when you take a trade of this magnitude (for Lance), most of our options don’t have Jimmy on our books (in 2022)… But you always have to adapt, and a series of events is.” happened it didn’t work. But that’s not a bad thing. We feel positive about it. And we will make it work.”
SI.com’s Albert Breer provides further insight into the QB situation, noting that Garoppolo’s shoulder was the biggest factor in the 49ers’ trading difficulties. The plan was to trade the veteran after the “big quarterback dominoes fell,” but the injury changed things.