Eight QBs 49ers Could Target NFL Free Agency To Support Jimmy Garoppolo

Changes are coming to the 49ers quarterback room for the 2021 season.

GM John Lynch admitted this week that he was not happy with Nick Mullens and CJ Beathard as reservists behind starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.

Lynch, speaking on the “Eye Test for Two” podcast, reiterated that he expects Garoppolo to be the 49ers’ starting quarterback in 2021.

But he said the 49ers need to consider the possibility that Garoppolo could suffer another injury that puts the team’s hopes on the save.

“We need to isolate ourselves better,” Lynch said. “We need to have better options if he’s not there.”

Mullens is slated to be a restricted free agent, while Beathard is slated for unrestricted free agency.

With a salary cap dropping from $ 198.2 million to somewhere north of $ 180 million, the 49ers face a balancing act of getting an upgrade to the backup quarterback while leaving plenty of space to meet other needs.

Garoppolo currently has $ 26.4 million against the cap. The 49ers could easily earn around $ 10 million in cap relief with a restructured deal for Garoppolo that converts much of his expected $ 24.1 million salary into a signing bonus.

Not only would these cap savings help create room to re-sign left tackle Trent Williams and others, but a small portion could also be reinvested in strengthening the team’s save situation behind Garoppolo. .

Here are some veteran quarterbacks who might be options to fill that role on the 49ers depth chart: