The 49ers endured one of the more bizarre situations under center in 2022, highlighted by their ability to qualify for the NFC title game despite major injuries being suffered by each of their top three quarterbacks. That leaves their outlook heading into the offseason rather cloudy, with the likely exception of Jimmy Garoppolo.
The veteran was long thought to be on his way out of the Bay Area last offseason, with Trey Lance formally named the team’s starter moving forward. Garoppolo’s offseason shoulder surgery complicated a potential acquisition, though, and he remained in the Bay Area on a re-worked contract. That proved to be a wise move for both parties, after Lance’s ankle injury thrust Garoppolo back into the starter’s role. 
The 31-year-old won seven of his 10 starts this year, helping keep the team stay consistent on offense. Garoppolo played himself into consideration for another 49ers pact, but he suffered yet another major injury which kept him sidelined for the stretch run and postseason. In no small part because of that, he is expected to depart in free agency this time around.
Garoppolo has long been considered one of the league’s best locker room presences and a team-friendly passer to build around. However, the tone struck by head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch during the team’s season-ending media availabilities pointed to tension between themselves and the former Patriots second-rounder. Indeed, Tim Kawakami of The Athletic notes that the relationship between Garoppolo and San Francisco’s brain trust “seems to have gone a bit south” in the time leading up to the NFC championship game (subscription required).
A Garoppolo return was at one point thought to be in play before the 49ers’ loss to the Eagles, but the Super Bowl was understood to be the earliest point at which he realistically would have been able to suit up. That scenario never developed, with rookie sensation Brock Purdy and emergency backup Josh Johnson each suffering injuries in the NFC title game. Kawakami adds that he isn’t aware of a singular incident which led to a cooling of relations around Garoppolo, but the latter’s presence in 2023 would no doubt complicate the situation with Lance and Purdy.
Given the current QB landscape in the NFL, Garoppolo is likely to have no shortage of suitors. The Jets – who have been connected countless times to a potential Aaron Rodgers trade and recently met with free agent Derek Carr – have reportedly done homework on him. Given his background in the Bay Area, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo names the Texans (now led by HC DeMeco Ryans) as another squad to watch (video link). He adds the Titans, Raiders and Buccaneers to the list of potential destinations for Garoppolo, who will become increasingly sought-after if the likes of Lamar Jackson, Daniel Jones and Geno Smith play on the franchise tag.
Garoppolo’s impressive win-loss record in San Francisco is weighed down by his myriad of injury troubles, but leaving the team on a relatively sour note would represent an underwhelming end to his tenure there. He figures to have plenty of options with respect to his next chapter, however.
He’s as good as gone.
I’ve never understood their need to get rid of a guy they’ve had so much success with. Good QB’s are very rare, the grass may not be greener…
Jimmy G is just average. He’s propped up to above average by top tier coaching and a loaded team around him. He’s not bad, but in order to win a SB in this window, they are going to have to find an upgrade at QB. The 49ers want more than a deep playoff run where they fall short, at this point.
You can win to an extent with Jimmy G, but once you have to ask him to be the main reason you win the championship game or Super Bowl, as you usually do with your QB, the season is over.
This is the exact reason. Combine that with the fact he can’t stay healthy, you would be crazy to risk your season on him.
Banking on Lance to be that guy because of a few flashy games at North Dakota is foolish
they have Purdy and Lance to look at long-term.
.. and proved o-line and scheme are more important than who’s under center.
if they add a QB it’ll be a 1 year deal with someone like Brisset or Brady, while Jimmy G looks for some longer security
Every rookie QB is taken based on his potential because until he gets in the league all is speculation. The reason they were so high on Trey was not just his measurables, but his maturity, intelligence and work ethic. I have never seen so much fan and media desire for a rookie to fail in my long history of following the NFL.
The team wasn’t top tier when he joined them and went 5-0 to finish the season. Injuries have slowed him down, but I wouldn’t consider him just average.
IHLgulls,
The way Purdy played, you can let Jimmy G walk! If I were Lynch, I would even consider trading Lance, let Jimmy G walk and signing a backup to backup Purdy. Then you could spend the money that you would have paid both Lance and Jimmy on a prime defender which I think they were one good defensive player away from the Super Bowl!
Their defense was the best in the league. They weren’t “one defender away” the were a healthy quarterback away. Purdy is the weakest of the 3. He benefited from a great team and great coaching. Simple as that.
Let’s see what happens next season when teams have the chance to scheme against Purdy….most probably we’ll see exactly what he has…..
You can’t expect to get anything of value for Lance despite giving up so much to get him. They’ll be forced to play him to finally decide drafting him was a tremendous mistake and he’s a huge bust.
Lance is still on his rookie salary and a midrange back up would eat up any savings. Plus it takes a while to learn Shanahans offense. And right now Lance is probably at his lowest trade value. It would be stupid for multiple reasons to trade him right now. They do not even know when Purdy will be back. You obvious do not know much about the Niners situation. To many of you listen to national media who know diddly themselves and are just presenting rumors to gain clicks.
JImmy is history. The issues between him and the coach have been festering for some time. They just kept it secret because they did not want to hurt is trade value. But he is a free agent and they have nothing to gain by promoting him as a good guy locker room presence.
I was impressed by Purdue as well, and I understand Garappolo’s limitations, but if he were so average, one would imagine that the 9ers would have an overall winning record without, too…
What most people do not grasp is that Jimmys success with the niners and W-loss record compared with his back ups was highly scewerd. He has just been fortunate to have played when the team was at its healthiest. The times when his back ups played the team led the league in injures one season and was fourth the other. They were also major injuries to key personal. The record when he came to the niners was also deceptive. The were a new roster getting used to new schemes on both offense and defense and were just getting everything together when JImmy was put in as the starter. The also had lost 5 games by 3 points or less so the team was much better than their record showed. . Plus the losing streak was already broken by the rookie Beathard who put up 31+ points in a win before JImmy played in his first game.
Well, while that point is valid and true, you can also tell by watching him in games. Garappolo makes a lot of questionable plays, usually meaning that he throws occasionally to empty spots, or forces a pass to a covered receiver, as he is known to do. However, Garappolo also would make enough right plays in the game at critical junctures to keep the team winning. The team usually runs more smoothly when he is under center.
Purdy managed to do that admirably, but did not make the questionable “force it” plays that Garappolo did. He did make as many of the clutch plays, either, but he did not really have to because he was efficient with his other decisions and that kept the Niners in rhythm on offense. And when Purdy did have to make a clutch play, he did so successfully. However, realistically speaking, we also must acknowledge that the defense was playing well to help San Fran as they started a backup. Purdy is certainly the way to go at the moment, and Garappolo is on his way out, as is correct. But we shouldn’t undersell what Garappolo offered to the Niners just because Purdy is now their current future option.
My homework on Grap shows he’s constantly hurt and misses multiple games a season. But somehow, he’ll carve out a $35-40m/salary with that blemish on this resume.
Somebody will overpay Garoppolo – as it happens every year…
General consensus in Bay Area is 49ers should keep Garoppolo and Purdy is #1 next year, Lance to be traded by draft.
I don’t think trading Lance would be a particularly thrifty move at this juncture. His stock has never been lower, so a trade wouldn’t be particularly fruitful at this point. There’s probably more value to seeing if he can put the pieces together and give Purdy some competition for the starting job.
Also, there is no way Garoppolo returns again, just to be a backup
Niner fans also thought Nick Mullens should have started over Jimmy at one point. They’re not the brightest bunch…Jimmy is gone they need to move on. Let Trey and Brock battle it out next year at camp.
To group an entire fan base into something maybe a few people said makes you look foolish. There are dumb fans in every fan base. But I never heard anyone say that about Mullens. Nice try though.
They thought that during the 2018 season when Mullins set rookie QB stat records. The fans and the coaches gave up on Mullins due to his showing in 2020, but he was playing with a patched up O-line minus Williams and no playmakers to speak of. Plus the times he did play Kittle was playing injured. Mullins got the shaft the team was running practice squad players at the skill positions and he the O-line was missing three starters. JImmy could have played, but was smart enough to sit out knowing no one could win with that lineup. He did seem to be healthy enough to run the scout team in practice. Jimmy does well when the team is healty and has their skill players to get RAC. That decided if the team won not who was behind center.
Appears Jimmy G will be out but with both Lance and Purdy coming off serious injuries the 49ers have to bring in another QB. Lance maybe ready for the start of 2923 but Purdy status for 2023 is a total mystery. Taylor Heineke could be a good low risk inexpensive veteran option to add. Adding Heineke may help the 9ers psyche, they will know they have a QB who beat the Eagles in 2023..
Wow! 900 years is a long time to wait for Lance!
They’re waiting for him to get enough starting experience.
The Niners were ready to go with Trey last season and it was just because he got injured that the went with JImmy again. If they were ready to go with Trey last season what makes people think they will not do it this year as well. They are invested in and have not lost confidence in Trey yet. Logic dictates they find out what the have. With Purdy at best case scenario coming in late and behind it makes sence to at least start off with Trey.
The Niners/Garoppolo relationship reminds me of my dating days when bad girlfriends always found ways to hang around long after I’d lost interest in them.
I predict Trey Lance will be a…Carolina Panther by the start of the 2024 season.
Titans
You guys are listening to the media who are still ticked off that they predicted the Niners would take Mac Jones. They looked like fools so they are trying to gain face by implying that they were right and the Niners were wrong to pick Trey.
That was a terrible trade. They should’ve stuck with the draft slot and taken Trey or Fields, whoever fell to them.
2024? Just as good a chance he’ll be a Houston Roughneck or Philadelphia Star as he would be a Carolina Panther.