Live from the NFL’s Annual League Meetings in Palm Beach, Florida, Jimmy Garoppolo is still on the San Francisco 49ers’ roster, but you guys knew that already.
“I think we’re fortunate that we have three quarterbacks we believe in – Trey [Lance], Jimmy and Nate [Sudfeld],” said 49ers general manager John Lynch. “And, you know, some people are looking for one. So I think that’s a position of strength.”
It was believed that Garoppolo would have been traded by now, but offseason surgery on his throwing arm and the NFL’s quarterback carousel have complicated the situation.
“There were a ton of conversations and I think there was real good momentum,” Lynch said. “Then, the decision that was made for Jimmy to have surgery certainly caused a lot of teams to pause and at least slow down the process to do their due diligence. The quarterback musical chairs is going on, and all along we understood that we really value Jimmy and never were we just going to give him away.”
Garoppolo is rehabbing his shoulder in Los Angeles, and is scheduled to begin throwing again in early July.
Lynch said that, contrary to reports, the 49ers have not received a firm offer for Garoppolo, and he has not told other NFL teams that they had. The 49ers are also not planning to release Garoppolo.
“He’s too good of a player,” Lynch said. “I don’t foresee that, and I think Jimmy will be playing for us or he’ll be playing for somebody else. He’s too good of a player not to be.”
The team has given Garoppolo and his team permission to seek a trade.
Trey Lance
After the 49ers traded up in the 2021 NFL Draft to pick Lance at No. 3, the presumption was that Lance would be QB1 starting in 2022. The excitement over the second-year QB has not changed.
“The great news is we’re extremely positive as I’ve said, and Kyle’s said, on Trey’s progress,” Lynch said. “This offseason he’ll have ample opportunity…to get plenty of reps. And we’re looking forward to that process.”
Alex Mack
After the 2021, there was some question as to whether center Alex Mack, who just got married in Ireland, would retire or return for 2022. Lynch is optimistic that it’s the latter.
“He’s training like he’s coming back,” said Lynch. “I won’t speak for him, but all signs are him coming back and being a part of us.”
Dee Ford
Unfortunately, it does not sound like defensive end Dee Ford’s back injury has healed to a point where San Francisco believes he will be back.
“I don’t see a lot of hope in him being a factor for us on the field moving forward,” Lynch said.
And Those Deebo Samuel and Nick Bosa Contract Extensions
Reiterating what he said at the NFL Combine in early March, Lynch said San Francisco is prepared for contact extensions for both DE Nick Bosa and WR/RB Deebo Samuel.
“Those guys are going to be a part of us for a long, long time,” Lynch said.