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Alex Smith knows the position 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo finds himself in: a top-10 QB in the draft sitting behind him on the depth chart.
Smith was the Kansas City Chiefs starter when Patrick Mahomes was selected No.10 overall in the 2017 NFL Draft, and relinquished the job to the eventual MVP after one season.
Garoppolo now has third overall pick Trey Lance, who plays QB1 with the 49ers now, and Smith believes both 49ers quarterbacks could benefit from Jimmy G somewhat mimicking Smith’s situation in Kansas City and staying the starter. of the regular season.
“If he stays healthy I think he’s going to have a big year,” Smith told Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle. “I can’t wait for that. I think he’s a hell of a player and he’s been really stung by the injury bug. And I think it would be amazing for Trey to watch a guy play at the level Jimmy can operate on. .
Smith led the Chiefs to a 10-6 season and a playoff appearance in 2017, where Kansas City fell to the Tennessee Titans by just one point in the AFC Wild Card Game.
The 49ers and Garoppolo also have playoff expectations for the 2021 season, and the last time he played a full campaign in 2019, the 49ers were a few rebounds away from defeating Mahomes and the Chiefs in Super Bowl LIV.
RELATED: Even Rosen Was Excited To Watch Lance’s Preseason Debut
Lance impressed in training camp, and while his stats weren’t ideal, he showed his elite arm strength with an 80-yard touchdown pass in the 49ers’ first preseason game this weekend. end.
Considering what the 49ers have given up on trading with the No.3 pick to select Lance, there will undoubtedly be more external pressure on Shanahan to put the rookie in the starting lineup than there was. in Kansas City with Mahomes.
But if the 49ers win games and Garoppolo is healthy, there’s no need to force Lance to act, especially as he continues to learn Shanahan’s intricate playbook.
There is no open QB competition at the moment, according to Shanahan, and until Garoppolo fights in matches or gets injured, that likely won’t change. The 49ers would certainly be delighted if their situation ended up emulating what happened with Smith / Mahomes in Kansas City, but it’s far too early to compare the two situations perfectly.
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