On Jimmy Garoppolo, John Lynch Said What He Had To Say

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Yes, 49ers general manager John Lynch recently said he has no doubts that Jimmy Garoppolo will be the team’s starting quarterback in 2021. Yes, there is good reason to doubt that it will actually and ultimately be. the case.

Lynch, frankly, said what he had to say. It was no different than what Eagles general manager Howie Roseman said about quarterback Carson Wentz on Jan. 4, weeks before the Eagles agreed to trade him for the Colts.

“As far as Carson is concerned, I don’t think it’s a secret that we moved on for him because of what we thought of him as a person, as a player,” Roseman said at the time. “We gave him this extension because of the same things. And so, when you have players like that, they’re like fingers on your hand. You cannot even imagine that they are not part of you, that they are not there. This is how I feel about Carson.

Roseman wasn’t telling the outright truth at that point, as it would have made it even more difficult to secure the third-round pick and conditional second-round pick for Wentz that the Eagles will ultimately receive when the trade will become official on March 17th. Likewise, Lynch couldn’t and wouldn’t say anything other than Garoppolo is the guy for 2021 before the 49ers had an upgrade to Garoppolo on the roster.

The 49ers are surely looking for a better option. With a minimal cap consequence ($ 2.4 million) and a significant cash and cap charge to keep Garoppolo in 2021 ($ 25 million), there’s every reason to look for someone who could be better. to this post.

Garoppolo’s biggest flaw (aside from the rash of interceptable passes he threw in the 2019 playoff win over the Vikings that prompted coach Kyle Shanahan to make Jimmy G. a Bob Griese modern day until Super Bowl spot is secured) is his inability to stay. in good health. As a quarterback, that’s a big deal. Indeed, with the rules geared towards protecting quarterbacks, it should be much easier, not harder, for quarterbacks to remain capable and available to play.

So, yes, there is lingering doubt as to whether Garoppolo will be the starter in 2021. If not, Lynch is not doing his job to the best of his ability. Lynch is also not doing his job to the best of his ability if he says anything else at this point that there is no doubt the starter will be Garoppolo.

And if a better quarterback becomes available for the 49ers and the 49ers acquire it, don’t be surprised if Garoppolo is cut. Who else would pay him $ 25 million for 2021? (The answer to that question underscores the urgency of finding a better option, unless the 49ers can force Garoppolo to take less.)

If / when this happens, don’t expect a lot in the media to call Lynch for saying, “But you said there’s no doubt Garoppolo will be the guy.” If someone does, the answer is simple: circumstances have changed.

The 49ers, in our opinion, are quietly hoping they will.